Welcome to the DailyDose of Higher Education from BreakDrink.com. This is the Tuesday, October 16th edition and I’m Shawn Brackett bringing you today’s news in colleges and universities.
“Chinese Women Shave Their Heads to Protest Gender Discrimination”
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/10/bald-chinese-women-protest-gender-discrimination/ [story]
Four women Chinese women shaved their heads in a rare public protest against gender discrimination in higher education. The demonstrations in Guangdong province are notable because protest without government approval is forbidden in China. Currently, several universities have government approval to lower admission standards for male candidates–permission granted “in the national interest.” A local women’s legal services center has taken on the case and intends to sue the government if the Ministry of Education does not provide a “satisfactory response.”
“German State Prepares for Surge in Students for 2013 Entry”
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20121011061246389 [story]
The most populous state in Germany and home to the cities of Cologne and Dusseldorf anticipates an additional 45,000 students to enter the higher education system in 2013. German states have been compressing their secondary education cycles from nine to eight years and North Rhine-Westphalia will do so next year. With the shortened secondary education cycle and the ending of military conscription, the universities are spending millions of euros on renting additional classroom space.
“Mexican Campuses Taken Over By Protesting Students”
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mexico-raids-seized-campuses-battle-protesters-17482267 [story]
Several institutions in Mexico have been taken over by protesting students in the past month, leading to counter-protests by other students and some police involvement. Mexican higher education has had a strong tradition of autonomy since the violent crackdown on student protests in the late-1960s and early-1970s, but police have intervened recently as the protests are beginning to affect local residents. One counter-protest movement calls itself “No mas tomas” or “No more takeovers.”
And, lastly,
“UAE to Establish the Islamic Virtual University”
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20121012172410755 [story]
The government of the United Arab Emirates has granted land to host and offered to pay construction expenses for the Islamic Virtual University. A result of collaboration among institutions throughout the Middle East, the IVU will focus on science and technology degrees offered in partnership through regional Islamic institutions. The new institution is designed to increase capacity for education without the expense of a traditional campus-based university.
That’s it for today. From the west coast, I’m Shawn Brackett. Join us on Thursday with the DailyDose from Sue Caulfield back east.
