A recent article in Times Higher Education features several Syrian exiled scholars in the UK. It reports "students and academics have fled the country in droves, and higher education institutions are being targeted by both sides in a civil war that has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people to date." One scholar said, "It is not only universities that are being destroyed, but a whole generation. Young people have been out of education for two years since the war started. This is going to create huge problems in the future."

Mirka Tvaruzkova, Senior Evaluation Officer at IIE, recently posted an article on the Learning Portal for Design, Monitoring & Evaluation for Peacebuilding discussing IIE’s 10-year Alumni Tracking Study to explore and analyze the impact of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP). "The study offers a rare opportunity to explore over the long term (2013 – 2023) how an innovative higher education program affected the lives of its beneficiaries and the communities in which they live and work, and to examine whether it shifted the picture of equity and access in developing countries and within underserved populations," writes Tvaruzkova.

Daniel Obst, Deputy Vice President of International Partnerships at IIE, recently posted part of his interview with Norway’s the new Minister of Education and Research, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen. They spoke about higher education internationalization in Norway and the priorities for academic collaboration with the United States. "We have tended to think of internationalization as our favor to the world—as part of Norway’s altruistic policies," said Isaksen. "Today we see that, as an open and competitive economy, we are dependent on internationalized higher education institutions."

The Institute of International Education welcomes David B. Fischer and Vernon E. Jordan Jr. to its Board of Trustees. The two will serve three-year terms as Trustees of the Institute, beginning this week. 

David B. Fischer is President and Chief Executive Officer of Greif, a world leader in industrial packaging products and services with more than 200 operating locations in more than 50 countries, serving global as well as regional customers. Mr. Fischer joined Greif in 2004 as Senior Vice President and Divisional President, Industrial Packaging & Services – Americas. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2011.

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. is a Senior Managing Director of Lazard Frères & Co. LLC in New York. He works with a diverse group of clients across a broad range of industries. Prior to joining Lazard, Mr. Jordan was a Senior Executive Partner with the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, where he remains Senior Counsel. While there Mr. Jordan practiced general, corporate, legislative and international law in Washington, DC.

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A recent article in The Pie News reports, after three months of negotiations, a coalition agreement between Germany’s biggest political parties has been reached. The new government aims to increase international students studying in Germany to 350,000 by 2020 and increase outbound mobility to 50% of all higher education students.

Focus Taiwan reported in an article published last week that the government of Taiwan hopes to increase the number of foreign students studying in Taiwan from 78,000 last year to 150,000 by 2020. Having more foreign students on Taiwan campuses is linked to "an important election campaign promise of mine six years ago," said Taiwan’s president, referring to his "Ten Thousand Galloping Horses" project that encourages Taiwan's youngsters to travel overseas to broaden their life experiences while welcoming those from other countries to "make friends with our young in Taiwan."

A recent article in the Diplomatic Courier discusses China’s struggle to align its development goals with foreign study policy. "National development goals place a new emphasis on advanced science and technology as China’s industry recognizes that it must, of necessity, lift itself up the value chain to remain globally competitive." Yet, the author points out, recent attempts "to lure back Chinese scientific and technology-related entrepreneurial talent from foreign countries" has so far met with "equivocal success."

EducationUSA is hosting the first southern Europe higher education recruiting tour from March 18-28, 2014 for U.S.-accredited higher education institutions. The fair has been planned to link with College Day Scandinavia and the U.S. Commercial Service Central Europe Fairs for one high-impact circuit.  

The tour will cover countries with growing potential for U.S. higher education institutions: Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Macedonia. Workshops on the Bologna process and other information about the European context will be included. The program guide is available for download and outlines the tour events, which includes country briefings, a workshop covering the latest on the Bologna process, cultural activities, and receptions with U.S. Embassies in the region.  

Southern Europe boasts students with excellent academic achievement, many strong athletes, and growing interest in both graduate and undergraduate programs. We invite you to be part of this new opportunity in several undiscovered countries to bring excellent students to your campuses.  

Cost: $3,500 early bird registration; $4,000 regular registration thereafter. For more information, and to indicate your interest, please visit the Southern European Tour website or contact edusaseurtour@gmail.com.

More than one thousand of the world’s leading experts and decision makers in higher and further education are due to come to Miami, USA, for the eighth prestigious Going Global 2014 conference, organized by the British Council. The conference will bring together leaders from governments, education institutions and business from more than seventy countries to explore how innovation systems are formed, structured, and driven globally and transnationally. IIE is a partner organization of Going Global. 

"Going Global has grown from a biennial event in the UK to an annual event that has been held in education hub cities such as Hong Kong and Dubai," commented Allan E. Goodman, President and CEO of IIE. "Holding this signature event in the United States for the first time and in a city that is home to America's largest and most diverse college offers the higher education community the opportunity to engage with academic and policy leaders from around the world to gain a truly global perspective on important innovation and talent development issues that affect us all."

For all inquiries about registering for Going Global 2014 please contact gg-registration@icwe.net.

This year's sessions address a range of topics that balance theory and practice, and promise to encourage rigorous reflection, stimulate lively dialogue and explore the forum theme, "New and Emerging Paradigms for Education Abroad." As the premier gathering for education abroad professionals and faculty, the annual conference brings together colleagues who value critical thinking, enriching conversation, and a strong commitment to the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad.

 

More information, including hotel and transportation details, session schedule and pre-conference workshop descriptions, can be found on the Forum website.

The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program provides short-term study and travel seminars abroad for U.S. educators in the social sciences and humanities for the purpose of improving their understanding and knowledge of the peoples and cultures of other countries. The upcoming seminar will be in China, with 14-16 positions open to teachers and administrators at the K-12 level. Terms of the award include a round-trip economy airfare, room and board, tuition and fees, and program-related travel within the host country.

Application Deadline: April 1, 2014 | Application Information

We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2014 Fulbright Regional Network for Applied Research (NEXUS) Program. This third iteration of Fulbright NEXUS is possible through a special partnership between the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange between the U.S. and Brazil, and the Brazilian Ministry of Education, Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Studies (CAPES). 

The Fulbright NEXUS Program will provide a platform for 20 program participants from countries in the Western Hemisphere to engage in collaborative thinking, analysis, problem-solving and multi-disciplinary research. The emphasis will be placed on climate change adaptation strategies and public policy-focused research ventures that examine strategies to cope with climate variability. Dr. Daniel M. Kammen from the University of California, Berkley and Dr. Sergio Pacca from the University of São Paulo will serve as the NEXUS Lead Scholars and provide intellectual leadership to the 2014 NEXUS cohort. 

Participants should be early or mid-career academics, applied researchers and/or professionals with research experience in the public, non-profit, or private sector. Participants should have particular expertise and research experience in one of the five identified research areas:

• Renewable Energy, including Micro-Grid Innovations
• Social and Behavioral Adaptation to Climate Change
• Measuring Climate Change and its Impact (Metrics and Standards)
• Climate Change and Biodiversity
• Climate Change and Food and Water Security

U.S. applicants must demonstrate proficiency in either Portuguese or Spanish. Non-U.S. applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English. 

Join IIE/CIES program staff and NEXUS Lead Scholars to learn more about the program and how to submit your credentials. Space is limited, so reserve your Webinar seat now. The Webinars are archived in order for you to review past sessions that you may have missed.

The Graduate Institute of International & Development Studies in Geneva invites applications to the new dual degree master program with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The dual degree program enables students to combine either the Master of International Affairs or the Master of Development Studies at the Graduate Institute with the Mid-Career Master of Public Administration at the Kennedy School.

It is intended for outstanding professionals with a minimum of seven years professional experience. Participants in this highly selective program must be admitted independently by each institution and meet the eligibility criteria of both. Students will spend their first year at the Graduate Institute in Geneva and their second at the Kennedy School. On completing all requirements of both schools, they will obtain two Master’s degrees in two years.

The dual focus of the program will give students the tools they need to pursue a career in national government, international institutions, NGOs, and consulting firms, in particular those active in the field of development.

The Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) is pleased to announce a call for applications from scholars facing threats to their lives or academic work. Fellowships support temporary academic positions at colleges, universities, and other research institutions outside their home countries anywhere in the world. 

 

Professors, researchers, and public intellectuals from any country, field, or discipline may apply. Please refer eligible candidates and forward this announcement to any academic colleagues who may be interested. 

• Qualifying applicants are currently facing or have recently fled from direct and immediate threats. 
• Preference is given to scholars with a Ph.D. or other terminal degree in their field and who have extensive teaching or research experience at a university, college, or other institution of higher learning. 
• Women and scholars from under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Since IIE-SRF's founding in 2002, the program has provided academic fellowships to over 500 scholars from 50 countries, placing them at nearly 300 host partner institutions in 40 countries. IIE-SRF fellowships support visiting academic positions for up to one calendar year. Awards are issued for up to US $25,000, plus individual health insurance coverage and professional development assistance.

Fellowships are disbursed through dedicated host academic institutions, which provide direct support and a safe haven for IIE-SRF fellows. In most cases, hosts are asked to match the IIE-SRF fellowship award by providing salary / stipend support and other in-kind assistance that would make the scholar's appointment comparable to other visiting academic positions. 

 

For an early March decision, please submit application materials by Monday, February 3, 2014. Please note that applications are accepted at any time and can be considered on an emergency basis. 

To refer or nominate a threatened scholar in need for assistance, please contact SRF@iie.org. 

 

IIE-SRF is currently seeking hosts for scholars from Ethiopia, Iran, Syria, and Uzbekistan.