International News

Japan: Government allots funds for damaged universities

The Japanese government recently passed a reconstruction budget of 18 billion yen (US$ 220 million) for the repair of university buildings that suffered damages in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Education, 229 universities were affected in the twin disasters and the country’s higher education sector racked up a total of 60 billion yen (US$740 million) in damages.

“Reconstruction work has already begun and will continue speedily, even though we have not set a final deadline yet given the enormity of the work ahead,” ministry official Noriko Konishi said.

- University World News

Germany: Politician faces allegations of plagiarism

European Parliament Vice President Silvana Koch-Mehrin is facing allegations of plagiarism in parts of the doctoral thesis on economic history she wrote 11 years ago.

The German politician, who took her doctorate at University of Heidelberg, could be stripped off her doctoral title if the charges are proven true.

Allegations against Koch-Mehrin surfaced weeks after former Defense Minister Karl- Theodor zu Guttenberg resigned from his post when charges of plagiarism against him were justified.

Such infringements are on the rise in Germany with the country’s Institute for Research Information and Quality Assurance (IFQ) reporting that over 40 per cent of higher education academicians have faced claims of plagiarism, stolen ideas or other academic violations.

- University World News

France: Government seeks more foreign students

The French government is looking to draw in more foreign students from developing countries and increase the number of postgraduates from overseas.

Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Juppé and Minister for Higher Education and Research, Valérie Pécresse, met with representatives from nine member countries of the G8 and G20.

Juppé said that by the year 2015, the world student population would have increased to 200 million with two-thirds from developing countries.

“Student mobility, which has tripled during the course of the last 30 years, today concerns three million people. By 2025 young people studying outside their countries of origin will number between four and six million,” he said.

France currently ranks third in list of countries hosting foreign students with over 278,000 foreign students enrolling in universities and colleges at the start of the academic year.

- University World News

United States: Uni student refunds sales from Osama tees

A business student at New York University made over US$100,000 by selling t-shirts regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden, but now intends to refund all his customers.

Maurie Harary, 23, set up osamadeadtees.com as soon as he heard that the Al Qaeda leader had been shot dead.

Harary now regrets what he initially did out of national pride. “Celebrating over the death of someone, whoever it is, is evil in my eyes,” the young entrepreneur said.

“I feel it’s not a positive way to be making money. I don’t want my success to come at the expense of anyone else.”

- TIME