Universities Paid for Irish Students to Go Home and Vote in the Abortion Referendum

We’ve highlighted below some of the most recent developments and occurrences in youth-related news and events. In this week's Friday news we speak about British universities paying for their Irish students to go home and cast their vote in the abortion referendum, student visa extension in the UAE and universities that are quietly collaborating with Facebook.

Universities paid for Irish students to go home and vote in the abortion referendum

6 British universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Nottingham, Birmingham, Essex, Goldsmiths and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama offered their Irish students to pay for them in order to travel home and cast their vote in the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, reports The Tab. Students’ Unions offered around £110 to fund travel expenses for Irish students. This initiative was a part of #Home2V8te campaigned supported by the NUS and student union of British universities.

Student visa extension could attract more universities to United Arab Emirates

Khaleej Times reports that by the end of this year, new student visa extension policy in the UAE will be implemented and this will enable 10-year stay for academically exceptional students and 5-year residency visa for all students. Mohammad Abdullah, managing director of the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and the Dubai Knowledge Park stated that this could bring several changes to the education industry with the possible influx of new students and universities. Abdullah also added: “The most important thing for us is not just the volume, but, also the quality – so we’re being selective in picking the type of universities and the type of study they offer. The number will increase, as there will be more interest from universities that want to set up here.”

Universities quietly collaborating with Facebook

Inside Higher Ed reports that growing number of academics are working with Facebook in order to build new products, but not many openly speak about it.  According to Facebook, 30 institutions signed up for Sponsored Academic Research Agreement (SARA) and agreed to help the company to develop new technologies. In the end of 2016, first 16 universities signed their contracts with Facebook. A spokesperson for the company explained to the Inside Higher Ed that all members of the SARA sign “a universal agreement with terms that are project-by-project and designed to be fair and appropriate for universities.”

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