New Magazine on the Bologna Process

At the Hedda Blog, I note this announcement about a new magazine designed to explicate the issues and the achievements of higher education reform in Europe.

For casual observers, the Bologna process can be a challenge to decipher technical terms and jargon, and to search for the core issues. (For some background, see here, here and here).

This new publication seems quite accessible. In fact, you can access it here.

South Africa Higher Education Summit

The University World News provides very practical coverage of last week's summit on higher education in Cape Town, South Africa.

The summit involved representatives from all key stakeholder groups, including government officials, university administrators, faculty, support staff, and students.

Here are six brief but different perspectives that the News published.

An endorsement of stakeholder involvement

A challenge to make higher education more accessible

A report on the persistence of discrimination at universities

A faculty Jeremiad on higher education in shambles

Students speak out

A keynote called Transformation is not for sissies.

Maybe it's time to organize similar events in the US.

MU Study Abroad: Effects of Iceland Volcano

Here's an update on how the Iceland volcano has affected current MU students enrolled in European programs.


The update was published in the Columbia Missourian.

Update on Volcano Disruptions from US State Dept.

Here's the latest announcement from the US State Department if you're affected by the disruption in travel in/to or from Europe.

MU Announces 2010 International Engagement Awards

MU's Council on International Initiatives is pleased announce the recipients of the 2010 International Engagement awards.

Congratulations to all nominees, and thanks to all involved in the selection process.

See the full announcement here.

Marshall Scholar Brian Pellot - April 21

The MU International Center is delighted to co-sponsor a special campus-wide presentation by MU senior and Marshall Scholar Brian Pellot.

If you're interested an able to attend, see this announcement for details.

For more information on the prestigious Marshall Scholarships, see this site.

Our thanks to the MU Fellowships Office, the College of Arts and Sciences, its International Studies degree, the International Programs Office at the MU School of Journalism, and the Convergence Journalism program for co-sponsoring this event.

Economic Impact of Iceland Volcano

Ash from the Iceland volcano is wreaking havoc on travelers and others who depend on air flights to/from European airports.

It's too early to predict when the disruption of eruptions will end. (Check here for some amazing photographs of the volcano).

Many students and faculty members are anxious about travel required for study abroad.

This BBC article provides rough estimates of immediate and possibly long-term economic impacts.

See also this New York Times article that focuses on the response of various governments to flight disruption.

More Reading for Academic Leaders

As follow up to my last post, I share three other (brief) essays I stumbled upon recently. If you aspire to academic leadership - or work with someone who does - these may be of interest.

First, The right kind of nothing. It's about leadership responsibility, control and (some times) the need to let go.

A brief excerpt:

Two qualities characterize an academic administrator. The first is a capacity to take responsibility. The second is a need for control. Your position on those two dimensions determines how effective you can be as a manager, and for how long.

The most successful administrators—the ones who accomplish the most and don't burn out—have an enormous sense of responsibility but a very small need for control.

Second, How Professors are Like Cats. (The comments are worth reading).

Third, Ten Red Flags for Innovation. Business Week's Stephan Lindegaard says...

There's no surefire way to guarantee success in innovation. (Here are) 10 helpful suggestions of common pitfalls to avoid.

Read about the red flags here.

Reading: The Anxious Organization

I'm reading Jeffrey Miller's book, The Anxious Organization.  If you're studying or working at a public university right now (or hope to someday), you'll probably want to check this out.  It provides valuable insights, practical tips -- and the recommended reading list at the back is worth the effort to buy the book.

By the way -- this book works for any organizational setting.  It argues that anxiety is to be expected for organizations in a competitive environment. 

The challenge for leaders: 1) learn the causes and the systematic effects of anxiety, and 2) help people manage anxiety in ways that enhance overall organizational performance.

International Graduate Student Admissions Increase in US

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) just released survey results that show international graduate student applications increased in the US for the fifth consecutive year.  Based on survey responses, totals are up by 7% over last year.

This increase has been fueled by double-digit growth rates in students from China.  Recent application declines from India and Korea stabilized this year.

Trends vary significantly by field of study and by type of host university. 

For more information see the media release and the full report.  the survey was on applications, not admissions. CGS' annual survey on admissions (and final application numbers) will be released in August.

Previous years’ surveys are posted here.

Minnesota Integrates Study Abroad Into the Curriculum

The Chronicle of Higher Education has this report on how the University of Minnesota integrates study abroad into its curriculum. 

Participation in study abroad there has grown steadily -- as a result of in-depth discussion between academic departments and the University's Learning Abroad Center.

Here's an excerpt from the Chronicle's piece, including an interview with Center Director Martha Johnson:

For engineering, studying in another country might be relevant because of the increasingly global nature of the profession, while for students of graphic design, the appeal could be the opportunity to explore the influence of foreign artists on their home turf.

Each department "defines in its own terms why it's important to go abroad," Ms. Johnson says.
The group then works together to pinpoint times when overseas study can best fit into the curriculum. And Ms. Johnson and her staff work to provide programmatic choices.
Over the last decade, Minnesota has added more than 50 programs to enable students in nontraditional disciplines to study abroad, says Ms. Johnson, who gets ribbed by colleagues from other colleges on visits to study-abroad sites when she asks about offerings in areas like soil sciences or volcanology. Some 200 Minnesota faculty members have also gone overseas in recent years to review programs.

Other study-abroad options include academic exchanges that grow out of professors' international research collaborations and short-term programs led by Minnesota faculty members. For example, professors affiliated with the university's health-careers center, which works with students considering jobs in medicine and other health-related careers, are planning a seminar in India, focusing on public health and primary care in tribal areas.
In all, the university has more than 300 options for students wishing to study overseas.
The common thread, Ms. Johnson says, is that all programs must be evaluated and approved by the department, not just her office.

For more information on Minnesota's approach to curriculum integration, check here.

India: $1 Billion loan to improve engineering education

I see in the University World News that the World Bank has issued a $1 billion loan to improve the quality of engineering education in India.  This program will directly benefit up to 200 institutions of higher education, to be selected on a competitive basis.