The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 13 June 2013.
Canada: World's largest indigenous studies conference comes to Canada
Canada’s University of Saskatchewan is hosting the world’s largest conference on aboriginal studies this week, reports Leader-Post. This is the fifth meeting of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, and the first time it’s been held in Canada. The three-day conference will include 900 participants from universities across every world region, to share a variety of research relating to indigenous peoples. Host committee chair Rob Innes said, “It's the experience of colonization, the way in which their home governments have treated indigenous people. Although there are distinct differences, there is also a lot of overlap.”
UK: Female students expect to earn less than men after graduating
A study of final-year students at the UK’s top 30 universities has found that female students have much lower salary expectations than males, reports The Telegraph. On average, women’s expectations for earnings in the first five years after graduation were 14% lower. This is partly explained by different career choices – the top choices among male students were investment banking, management consulting and engineering, while women favored marketing, media and charity work. However, even within the same career sector, women’s salary expectations remained lower.
New Zealand: Third of students say financial concerns impact on diet
A third of surveyed students at New Zealand’s Massey University said tight student budgets had led to them changing what they eat, reports The New Zealand Herald. More than 40% said finances were a significant cause of anxiety, and 12% said they struggled to meet financial demands. However, the university’s Dr Claire Matthews said the survey showed most students had a good attitude to responsible money management – though the fact that only 20% had contents insurance was a point of concern.
Pakistan: Dramatic increase to state funding for higher education
Pakistan’s government has allocated Rs57.4 billion (about US$583 million) for the development of higher education in its budget for the coming year, The Express Tribune reports. This is significantly more than last year’s allocation of Rs15.8 billion, and supports the government’s target of increasing higher education enrolments by 14% between 2012-13 and 2013-14. Specific schemes include the creation of 2,000 more government scholarships, a revised PhD fellowships program, the creation of a women’s university, and sponsorship for graduate students spending time studying abroad.