Industry News

Polytechnics set for record intake this year

Wednesday, 18 January 2012 02:23

A record 27,100 polytechnic places will be made available this year to cater to growing demand from school-leavers, including those getting their O-level results on Monday. nbsp;

Nanyang, Singapore, Ngee Ann and Temasek will take in 5,500 students each, while Republic will accommodate up to 5,100. This represents an increase of about 1,000 places over the last few years, and will bring the polytechnic intake to a record high [SG]

Tuition fee hike will make Oxbridge elite preserve, warns leading head Caroline Jordan

Friday, 23 December 2011 00:00

Students will face increasingly intense competition for places at Oxbridge and other top universities after the introduction of higher tuition fees, Caroline Jordan, a leading headmistress, has warned. nbsp;

Places at elite institutions could soon become the preserve of a small pool of high-achieving candidates seeking the best value for money, Mrs Jordan, chair of the Girls’ Schools Association’s education committee, said. [UK]

Presents at Institutional Research Annual Meeting

Monday, 12 December 2011 00:00

I just returned from Boston and the North East Association for Institutional Research's 2011 annual conference, "Leading the Charge for Institutional Research." This annual meeting of college researchers and analysts from colleges and universities in the Northeast was among the largest in its history. [US News]

Government Calls For 'Fundamental Reform' of Exam System

Monday, 12 December 2011 00:00

The government is calling for a reform of the exam system, after inquiries were launched in England and Wales into claims of cheating.

The Telegraph alleges that some teachers were told what questions to expect in GCSE and A-level exams at an exam board seminar. [BBC]

700 Extra Student Places For Northern Ireland

Monday, 12 December 2011 00:00

An extra 700 undergraduate places will be made available in Northern Ireland by 2015, Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has announced. 

All the places will be in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. [BBC]

Victoria University Says New Rules to Blame For Cuts

Monday, 05 December 2011 00:00

VICTORIA University in Melbourne is seeking to shed up to 80 administrative staff through voluntary redundancies as it cuts costs in the face of increased competition when the Gillard government deregulates university student markets next year.

Vice-chancellor Peter Dawkins said he wanted to direct the savings into boosting teaching and research so that VU could better compete with more established universities. [The Australian]

University Applications Down 13% on Last Year

Monday, 05 December 2011 00:00

UK universities appear to be facing a slump in applications ahead of the first year of higher fees, the university admissions body says.

The latest figures from Ucas show applications to university courses starting next autumn are down 12.9%. [BBC]

More Cash Needed For State Boarding Schools

Monday, 05 December 2011 00:00

State boarding schools are being put at “significant risk” because of a lack of state funding, a leading headmaster warned yesterday.

Raymond McGovern, chairman of the State Boarding Schools' Association, said schools would struggle to meet the requirements of a tough new inspection regime without more money.

He also called on ministers to put more capital into schools to enable them to expand to take in additional pupils. [The Telegraph]

Continuing Education & Training

Monday, 05 December 2011 00:00

The Continuing Education and Training (CET) Masterplan is a comprehensive plan to prepare the Singapore workforce for the future and maintain a competitive advantage for Singapore.

The CET Masterplan will prepare the Singapore workforce and industry for important shifts. In addition to building stronger manpower capabilities, employers and workers can also benefit from higher CET capacity, enhanced funding support for training, and a comprehensive suite of structured skills training pathways across different industries. [MOM]

International Education Loses $18bn Premium

Monday, 28 November 2011 00:00

AUSTRALIA'S vaunted $18 billion education industry is no more.

Spending by foreign students fell almost 10 per cent to $16.4bn in 2010-11, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.

Unsettling changes in policy, including rules for visas and skilled migration, and attacks on Indian students are cited among causes of weaker enrolments. [The Australian]