The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 3 April 2013.
Italy: Female octopuses stretch further, scientists discover
Researchers in Italy have discovered a “surprising” difference in the lengths to which male and female octopuses will stretch to reach a tasty treat, BBC News reports. All of the octopuses observed were found to be able to extend their arms to more than twice their normal length, but the elongation rate was highest among females and also among smaller animals. Dr Laura Margheri, of Pisa’s Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, said smaller octopuses’ greater stretchiness may be due to “greater need of nutrients, higher agility and energetic metabolism” but the reason for the difference between genders was not clear.
Kenya: Concerns over shortage of academics
While student enrolments are soaring at Kenyan universities, academic staff numbers have failed to keep pace, University World News reports. In the past three years, student numbers have increased by 56% and professors by just 11%, leading to concerns that the quality of supervision may be negatively affected. The ratio of staff to students varies. At the University of Nairobi, for instance, there’s one lecturer to every 36 students, but at Kenyatta University there’s an average of 65 students to each lecturer.
Egypt: Students protesting over food poisoning
Hundreds of students in Egypt have joined public protests, after nearly 500 students were admitted to hospital with food poisoning thought to have been caused by a meal served in dormitories at Al-Azhar University. One student said similar incidents have occurred before, leading to concerns about the food students are being provided with. An official investigation has been launched, Aljazeera reports.
US: College athletes more likely to be depressed while still active
A study of current and retired college athletes has found depression levels are higher among the current group – contrary to researchers’ expectations, Science Daily reports. The authors of the study had begun from the hypothesis that after graduating, former college athletes would become prone to depression and experience a sense of weakened personal identity. Instead, they found that some 17% of current athletes appeared to be suffering from depression, compared to just 8% of retired college athletes.
China: Student survey highlights sleep problems
A survey of undergraduate students at Wuhan University of Science and Technology found that more than half reported poor quality of sleep, while less than a quarter slept for more than seven hours per day. Some students reported insomnia, due to causes such as stress about job interviews. More than 65% of students said they played computer games or used smart phones before going to bed.