The Euro-zone Crisis: Good Graphics

I noticed this recent summary of economic trends and policy responses in the Euro-zone. Whether or not you're focused on the global competition in higher education, I think you'll find these graphics of interest.

How the World Views the EU

My good colleague, Gareth Harding has published this multimedia piece on how the world now views the institutions of the European Union.

It will take some time -- but I recommend that you check it out.

Globalization -- and Asia's Return to Economic Supremacy

This week, our study abroad program is visiting at University College Dublin -- comparing the response to global economic crisis in Ireland and the US, and assessing the long-term effects on these two countries.



Today, we had an excellent presentation by Dr. Niamh Hardiman (of UCD's Geary Institute) entitled Liberalism in Crisis. She showed well the magnitude of economic, fiscal and political challenges European countries now face.



Tonight, I read this essay by Michael Hennigan at Finfacts.



It will take time, but I think you'll find it worth reading.

Volcano -- More Transatlantic Flight Delays

With many MU study abroad programs starting in Europe shortly, we track the volcanic ash plume pretty closely.

See the latest report on flight delays and re-routes.

Also - for real-time information on European airspace issues, see Euro Control (The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation)

China's Role in World Food Prices

A good colleague, Pat Westhoff at MU's Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, provided this excellent guest post on how developments in China may affect food prices through out the world. This work appeared in the New York Time's Freakanomics Blog.

Pat is also the author of a newly published book on the economics of food. If you're concerned about food security -- check this out.

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.

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.

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.

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Bologna Process

Yesterday and today, European Ministers of Education are meeting to mark the 10th anniversary of the Bologna Process - the largest and most ambitious higher education reform in history.

Earlier this week, the European University Association released its Trends VI report - part of a continuing evaluation of these reform efforts.

The European Students Association have also released a report that provides their perspective on Bologna.

Major new Bologna Process Report Published

This announcement from the European University Association...

A new report published today by the European University Association (EUA) analyses the implementation of the Bologna Process and its impact over the last decade on higher education across 46 countries in Europe in the context of broader reform processes affecting European higher education.

The ‘Trends 2010’ report – based on questionnaire responses from 821 universities, 27 national university associations, and site visits to 16 countries – will be presented in Vienna this week to mark the official launch of the European Higher Education Area and the end of the first phase of the Bologna reform Process (that was started in 1999).
This major study (the sixth in the Trends series) analyses the implementation of the Bologna ‘tools’ in universities (e.g. new degree structures, credit transfer and accumulation systems, and the use of the diploma supplement) since the outset. Importantly, it also assesses progress towards the underlying aims of the Bologna Process, such as improving quality of teaching, graduate employability, and mobility of students and staff. Equally, it looks at some of the key challenges for policymakers as they look ahead to the next decade of higher education cooperation.

EUA President, Professor Jean-Marc Rapp, will present some of the key findings from the study at this week’s Bologna Ministerial meeting. “We are now at a crucial point in the history of European higher education cooperation. This study shows that after ten years the ‘Bologna architecture’ is now firmly in place to build a strong common higher education area,” he says. ‘”However, it is crucial now that these reforms receive the necessary support from all stakeholders in order to create a flexible European Higher Education Area which provides graduates with all of the necessary skills to succeed in the 21st century,” he adds.

Download the report here.

Download the press release here to read some of the key findings.

Ireland: Hotel Prices Down 21%

One of the courses I teach this summer explores the future of the Irish economy.  A sample of today's RTE headlines indicates the breath and depth of current economic difficulties.(See here, here, and here - for example.)

This story on falling prices for hotel rooms caught my attention.  It follows a previous report that estimates a surplus of 15,000 hotel rooms in the Irish market.  This is good news for Irish visitors...but it paints a pretty bleak picture of at least one key economic sector.

The Bologna Challenge

I've posted several times about the Bologna Process -- European higher education reform (for example, see here, here and here).

Today's Inside Higher Ed features Q and A with the author of a recent book, called The Challenge of Bologna.

This interview is quick -- and worth wide reading.

Career Guidance: University Support for Researchers

The European University Association's Council for Doctoral Education are convening this workshop next month. 

With the knowledge that the doctorate is more than the entrance ticket to an academic career and that doctorate holders are increasingly needed in society, how do institutions set up structures that improve the awareness of the numerous career choices, how do they prepare doctoral candidates for a career outside academic research and – not least – how do they communicate the value of the doctorate to potential employees? 

Bailouts Around the World - An Infograph

This is not directly related to international academic programs -

but I stumbled upon this post by MU Professor Peter Klein.

It's very interesting to compare the actions of the US with those taken in Ireland, Germany, France, and China - to name a few countries.

More on University Full Costing

In a recent post, I noted that the European University Association is leading an effort to assist universities in assessing and managing the full costs of proposed collaborations in research, instruction, economic development, etc.

I invest a good portion of my time each day consulting with MU academic units that are pursuing new international initiatives. Sometimes these proposals offer very enticing financial incentives to the academic units -- but they carry indirect or unanticipated costs to the university that add to our fiscal stress.

I'm convinced that with full-costing, we can make agreements that work better for all parties involved.

For more background on the EUA project, see this article.

Re EU - Two Observations

As a more than casual observer of the European Union, I stumbled across two disparate developments that might be of interest...

First, appearing before a Subcommittee of Foreign Affairs in the US House of Representatives, Phillip Gordon reported on: "The Lisbon Treaty: Implications for Future Relations Between the European Union and the United States".

(Major) changes in the EU institutions attract very limited media attention in the US. The Treaty of Lisbon deserves more reflection on our part. Nevertheless, I'm encouraged that the US State Department has a deeper appreciation of its effects on Transatlantic relations and world affairs.

Gordon concluded his testimony:

The United States faces a daunting array of global challenges that no one country can handle on its own. For a variety of critical issues, from climate change, to the Doha Round of trade talks, from the Balkans, to Iran, solutions will require working in close concert with our European partners. We believe that the Lisbon Treaty represents a serious effort by our EU partners to streamline their policymaking process. We understand that, as with all efforts to reform complex institutions, this is a work in progress, and that it may take time for the new institutions to demonstrate their impact. Nevertheless, we hope that the changes brought by Lisbon will make the EU a stronger partner for the United States, and increase the role of Europe on the world’s stage. We want the EU to be that stronger partner and we certainly intend to do our part to engage closely with the new institutions, but in the end their ultimate effectiveness will be determined by the will of EU Member States to invest in them.

***

Second, I note that the EU is assembling more programs and resources to foster cultural and economic relations with China. For example, see the project named simply, "Understanding China". Several organizations across Europe, including the University of Antwerp, are working together in this project to provide executive training, policy dialogue forums, news summaries and a virtual community for European people and companies that want to learn how to do business in China. This is an interesting model. Perhaps US universities would do well to emulate.

A Key to University Financial Sustainability

I'm travelling in Brussels this week. Between meetings, I note a recent report issued by the European University Association, called Financially Sustainable Universities: Toward Full Costing in European Universities.

The findings and recommendations in this report can well be applied by US public universities.

International Education Week - at Missouri

International Education Week will be observed next week (November 16-20) across the world. At Missouri, we've planned a series of events.

• Monday, November 16
  Study Abroad Photo Contest AwardsLuncheon (by invitation only)
  Finalist photos available on line.

Tuesday, November 17, 12:00 Noon - 1:00 pm
Movie - Fulbright: The Man, the Mission, the Message
Free and Open to the Public
Hawthorne Lounge, Memorial Union, MU

Tuesday, November 17 7:00 pm
Talk: China's 30 Years of 'Opening Up and Reform'
Continuities and Change Visiting scholar Professor Lingling Qi
N103 (Stotler Lounge III) Memorial Union, MU

Wednesday, November 18, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
MU's connections with the Republic of Georgia: Past, Present and Possible Futures
Discussion led by MU Professors Byron Scott, Jim McCartney and Jim Scott
Jesse Wrench Auditorium, Memorial Union, MU

Thursday, November 19, 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Chancellor's Global Issues Forum - The Fulbright Program: Changing our Campus, Changing our World
Moderated by MU Chancellor Brady Deaton.
Chamber Auditorium, MU Student Center (located above the University Bookstore)

Friday, November 20, 11:30 AM
Thanksgiving Luncheon for First Year International Student (by invitation only)