Daily Higher Education News: 6 November 2012

The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 6 November 2012.

New interactive map published by UNESCO shows student mobility

UNESCO’s Canada-based Institute of Statistics has released an interactive map showing where international students come from and where they are studying.  The ‘Global Flow of Tertiary Students’ reveals that over a quarter of the world’s international student come from the East Asia and Pacific region, and over half of the total number study in North America or Western Europe. Several countries also have more students studying abroad than study domestically, reports University World News.

Vietnam tightens regulations for foreign providers

The Vietnamese government has issued a decree announcing that tightened regulations will apply to foreign institutions operating in the country as of this month. The new rules will apply to investment per student, student faculty ratios, English-language proficiency and teacher qualifications, reports University World News. Earlier this year seven foreign-run operations from Singapore, Australia and France were ordered to close down to low standards.

Australian grants program to encourage study in Asia

The Australian government has introduced a grants program which will encourage students to study in Asia, reports The Australian. The AsiaBound Grants Program, which has a total budget of US$38.6 million, will offer students US$2085 for short-term and US$5,210 for semester-long study in Asia. The introduction of the program follows the recommendations of the Asian Century white paper, which aims to acknowledge the increasing importance of Australia’s relationship with its Asian neighbors.

Teacher training must be reformed, says German Employers’ Federation

The German Employers’ Federation has called for a massive reform of the country’s teacher training system, reports University World News. It recommends that a Master of Education degree is introduced which would more adequately prepare graduates for professional life by introducing them to a classroom environment at an earlier stage. A better balance of male and female teachers, and a greater proportion of immigrants are also recommended.

New proposals may see agents banned from operating in China

China’s Ministry of Education, reports University World News, is currently debating new proposals which could see the operations of international student recruitment agents considerably limited, with some possibly banned altogether. The aim of the legislation would be to bring the regulation of foreign recruitment agents more in-line with the regulation of other foreign organizations operating in China.