Russia Wants to Attract Foreign Students and Restrict Foreign Scientists

Kuwait and Qatar reduce the number of Jordanian universities they recognize

Al-Fanar Media reports that Kuwait and Qatar have decided to drastically reduce the number of Jordanian universities that they will recognize. With this move, the two Gulf countries are calling into question the quality of Jordanian education. Eventually, it was decided by Kuwait to cut the number of universities whose degrees would be recognized from 20 to five. Qatar followed with the same kind of reduction, where they lowered the number from 13 to six. Fakher Daas, coordinator of Thabahtoona, a national campaign for student rights, said: ‘’This is the result of the decline and deterioration of higher education policies in the kingdom over the last 15 years.’’

Russia wants to attract foreign students and restrict foreign scientists

University World News reports that Russian Parliament is designing bills that could make higher education more accessible for Russian-speaking foreigners and domestic students. In this way, they are hoping to prevent the mass exodus of talented young people from rural areas to cities. At the same time, there are plans to issue regulations which will make collaboration between Russian and foreign scientists more difficult. Quoting reports by Moskovsky Komsomolets and Troitsky Variant, the publication Meduza wrote: ‘’At least two Russian scientists must be present at any meeting with foreigners, and contact with colleagues from abroad outside work hours is only allowed with a supervisor’s permission. After one of these meetings, Russian scientists must now file a formal report that summarises the conversation and includes copies of all participants’ passports.’’ Currently there are more than 220,000 foreign students in Russia.

Ten elite high schools lose licenses in South Korea

The Korea Herald reports that despite strong protests from the elite institutions and parents, the government has decided to cancel the licenses of ten elite high schools. Eight out of ten schools are from Seoul and Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae gave orders after these schools failed to pass recent performance assessments. Vice Education Minister Park Baeg-beom: ”The ministry decided to consent to the cancellation of the designation of eight schools in Seoul and Haeundae High School in Busan as autonomous private high schools, because the procedures and content of the achievement evaluation by the Seoul and Busan education offices were legitimate.” All of them are expected to be turned into regular schools next year.

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