Global, Australia, US: University News

By Jane Playdon Updated Mar 05, 2016

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Introduction
Global: European men are 11 centimeters taller than in 1870
Australia: Universities ask politicians to reveal HE policies
US: MOOC professor pulls out over financial concerns
Belgium: Kellogg to work closely with local university

Global, Australia, US: University News main image

Get the latest university news from around the world

The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 3 September 2013.

Global: European men are 11 centimeters taller than in 1870

Professor of Economics at the University of Essex and the Research School of Economics at Australian National University, Timothy J. Hatton, has published a study in the journal Oxford Economic Papers that shows the average height of a European male grew by 11 centimeters between the mid-nineteenth century and 1980, reports Science Daily. Hatton looked at data from 15 European countries, including military conscript records and surveys. A similar study for women was not possible because of lack of data. Hatton said: “The evidence suggests that the improving disease environment, as reflected in the fall in infant mortality, is the single most important factor driving the increase in height. The link between infant mortality and height has already been demonstrated by a number of studies."

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Australia: Universities ask politicians to reveal HE policies

The organization representing universities in Australia, Universities Australia, has asked for the parties involved in the imminent general election to reveal their higher education policies, reports University World News. The organization’s chief executive, Belinda Robinson, said that the current Labor government had announced cuts of AUD$3.8 billion (US$3.4 billion) to higher education and the Opposition had said it would not make cuts to education, but this raised questions about whether the Opposition’s announcement referred to higher education or just schools. Robinson said: “Universities Australia encourages both major parties to acknowledge the importance and magnitude of the return to the economy and to the Australian community on investing in higher education.”

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US: MOOC professor pulls out over financial concerns

A Princeton University sociology professor, Mitchell Duneier, has decided to leave the MOOC (massive open online course) movement temporarily because of concerns that it will cut funding to universities, reports The Chronicle of Higher Education. He was a high profile advocate of it last year, teaching an introductory sociology course through Coursera (MOOC platform) and featuring on the front page of the New York Times. But following a request by Coursera to license his content so colleges could use it to supplement face-to-face teaching, Duneier said: "I've said no, because I think that it's an excuse for state legislatures to cut funding to state universities." But he said he may still teach another MOOC under different circumstances.

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Caryn CallistaChinese University of Hong Kong student, Future17 participant

“It’s exciting to work alongside experts in the field, where I get to learn and contribute to technologies that could help reshape the future.”

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Tanika DuivenvoordenUniversity of Queensland student, Future17 participant

"Canada offers a high quality of life and student experience, known for its peace, safety, and stunning natural beauty, especially in Vancouver"

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Nidhi Mohan KamalMBA student, UBC Sauder School of Business

"CUHK’s MBA programme provided me with the stepping stone into a larger sports Asian market wherein I could leverage the large alumni network to make the right connections for relevant discussions and learning."

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Abhinav Singh BhalChinese University of Hong Kong graduate

Belgium: Kellogg to work closely with local university

The cereal and snacks manufacturer Kellogg recently announced the opening of a research and development facility in Leuven, Belgium, and will be working closely with the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), reports Just-Food. The senior vice president for research, quality and technology at Kellogg, Margaret Bath, said: “This new partnership we are creating with KU Leuven is a great example of industry-university cooperation and will help to drive the future of food innovation. Our presence here in Leuven will provide Kellogg with access to incredible talent, strong infrastructure and the right environment to nurture creative thinking and problem solving.”

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