Global Edition

UNITED STATES

Nathan M Greenfield

United States President Donald J Trump’s latest Executive Order, which replaces the peer-reviewed granting process with political appointees who will approve federally funded research grants, including international sub-grants, has led to widespread criticism from scientists, politicians and academics both at home and abroad.

UNITED KINGDOM-GLOBAL

In 2023 US$208 million flowed overseas via UK

Andrew Wigley

At a time of rising populism and anti-immigration sentiment, an analysis of United Kingdom-based charitable trusts shows that alumni are continuing to give – and are giving more – to their alma maters in recognition of the impact higher education has had on them.

UNITED STATES

Nathan M Greenfield

Citing ‘national interest’, the United States announced on 22 July that it would be withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO is the third multilateral organisation President Donald J Trump has withdrawn from since returning to the Oval Office.

UNITED KINGDOM

Nic Mitchell

The United Kingdom has joined the race to attract international research talent disillusioned by the Trump administration’s attack on science and universities in the United States. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is investing £54 million over the next five years.

CHINA

Amber Wang

To support the country’s plans to transition to high-end manufacturing and technology, China’s Ministry of Education this month unveiled plans to strengthen and accelerate the reform of engineering education and cultivate more ‘elite’ talent, particularly in shortage areas such as semiconductors and other strategic areas.

SOUTH AFRICA

Edwin Naidu

The head of South Africa’s representative vice-chancellors’ body has welcomed the appointment of Buti Manamela as the country’s new minister of higher education and training following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s removal of the incumbent Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who allegedly lied to parliament.

GLOBAL

The United Nations High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development, or HLPF2025, was held in New York from 14 to 23 July. University World News explores the growing roles of universities and research in advancing global sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals, as debated at the forum, which focused on advancing science- and evidence-based sustainability solutions.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Academic Affairs Division

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Academic Affairs Division

GLOBAL

James Yoonil Auh

Artificial intelligence can serve not as a threat but as a co-intellectual partner in reimagining university structures, pedagogy and public purpose. Given accelerating shifts in climate, technology and democratic institutions, what must higher education confront, and what might it become in the future?

TURKIYE

Dara Melnyk

MEF University in Türkiye is an example of innovation in action, responding to modern higher education challenges by closing the gap between ever-evolving industry needs and graduates’ skill sets through using flipped learning and AI to adapt to a fast-changing world that gives students guided control.

LATIN AMERICA-CARIBBEAN

Sjur Bergan

A new book aims to stimulate debate on the democratic mission of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean, discussing the history of global higher education cooperation on ideas of democracy, as well as working with local communities and developing inclusive, democratic values.

UNITED KINGDOM

Nic Mitchell

Universities are in danger of becoming a footnote in a planned skills revolution if the United Kingdom government presses ahead with equating skills with the further education sector and axes masters-level degree apprenticeships as it shifts funding to lower-level qualifications for 16- to 21-year-olds.

GLOBAL

Brent Ramdin

Amid ongoing cutbacks in higher education budgets around the world, defending the status quo is not the answer. Universities must stop treating revenue like a dirty word and start to focus on clarifying their sustainability mission and responding pragmatically to modern economic demands.

GLOBAL

Nermeen Mustafa

In an age where the demands of the workplace evolve faster than traditional curricula can adapt to, universities are rethinking one of their most fundamental components: assessment. This requires a mindset shift where employers are viewed as collaborators in the teaching and learning process.

INDIA

Shuriah Niazi

Thirty-two Indian universities have been flagged as being among the most ‘at risk’ worldwide by a new Research Integrity Risk Index, which identifies academic institutions with systemic research irregularities. This is a notable increase from the initial seven universities flagged with the most publications.