Global: An Online Solution to Africa’s Access Woes?

Africa might be the most important higher-ed story we’re not talking about. [Global] Hi, I’m Karin Fischer, and I cover international education. Here’s what I’ve been following this week: An Online Solution to Africa’s Access Woes?Africa might be the most important story in higher education that we’re not talking about – of the continent’s 1.2 billion people, 60 percent are under 25, yet less than 10 percent of college-age students in sub-Saharan Africa are enrolled in any sort of postsecondary education. For [The New York Times,]( I wrote about Unicaf University, an online institution that is trying to bring greater access to higher education across the continent. But can it overcome skepticism that distance learning is second-rate? ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Internationally Engaged Universities Perform Best on New Ranking“Open-border” universities outperform institutions with low international exchange, according to [U-Multirank,]( a global higher-education ranking. The assessment of some 1,700 universities worldwide found that faculty members at internationally engaged institutions are more likely to patent their ideas, establish spinoff companies, and publish with industry partners and that their students report greater satisfaction with their learning experience. U-Multirank, which is backed by the European Union and is now in its sixth year, was supposed to be a more transparent alternative to traditional international rankings, but it has been hampered by [questions]( about the reliability of its data and by low participation, especially from American universities. Bill Introduced to Retain More STEM GraduatesLegislation [introduced]( in the U.S. Senate would make it easier for international students who earn advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math to stay in the United States after graduation. Under the measure, introduced by four Democratic senators, graduates could gain lawful permanent residence if they got a job offer related to their field of study at a pay rate above the median for their geographic area. They would also have to demonstrate that they were not taking a position away from a qualified American worker. Trial Highlights Safety ConcernsA trial [began this week]( in the [murder]( of a Chinese student who disappeared at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. One of Yingying Zhang’s professors reported her missing when she didn’t reply to phone calls or text messages after she went to sign an apartment lease. The defense team is expected to argue that the suspect, Brendt Christensen, didn’t get the mental-health help he needed at the university. But in China, where Zhang’s disappearance has been heavily covered, the case underscores concerns about safety on American college campuses. What a Student’s Death Says About Visa PolicyAfter an Indian graduate student was killed during a holdup at a takeout restaurant, officials at the University of Missouri at Kansas City apparently tried to hide the fact that he was working there in violation of student-visa rules. Reporters for The Kansas City Star suggest they may have been worried about jeopardizing the university’s ability to enroll foreign students. As disturbing as the cover-up is, the incident also reveals some more systemic problems with international-students policy. You can read more in my weekly global-education newsletter, [latitude(s).]( Chronicle Top Reads [The Campus Innovation Myth]( By Matthew Wisnioski and Lee Vinsel A half-century of occasional breakthroughs — and a lot of disappointment. (PREMIUM) ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( [How the ‘Do What You Love’ Mantra May Further Exploitation on Campuses]( By Will Jarvis Research from Duke University concludes that one’s passion for work could lead to exploitative managerial conduct. (PREMIUM) Paid for and Created by University of Sydney [Healthy Aging]( While adequate protein intake is critical for maintaining lean mass, the best formula for healthy aging could be a diet low in protein and high in healthy carbohydrates. [7 Ways That List-Making Helps You Produce Scholarly Work]( By Rachel Toor Listicles and their quick-fix promises are internet brain candy, but they actually can be a useful writing tool for academics. [Why Writing Better Will Make You a Better Person]( By Bob Fischer and Nathan Nobis Two philosophy professors make the case that improving your writing is the ethical thing to do. And they’re serious. 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