News2 WOWU

ISSUE NO. 6 • AUGUST - OCTOBER 2012

A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR UNIVERSITIES BY QS ASIA

www.qsnews2wow-u.com

MICA (P) 190/07/2011

Asia shines in QS Top 50 under 50 rankings

With the release of QS Top 50 under 50 rankings, there is the evidence that the future elite universities will be found in Asia.

The QS Top 50 under 50 table ranks the top 50 universities under the age of 50. The table gives a glimpse into a future and can be seen as an indicator of which new university might be a potential Oxford or Harvard.

It is remarkable that six of the top ten universities in the QS Top 50 under 50 rankings are from Asia, with Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology beating the UK’s Warwick University to the top two spots.

“New science-based institutions have been established to drive innovation and growth in booming economies such as Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore,” says Ben Sowter, head of the QS Intelligence Unit. “Their superior performance compared to Western universities established within the same time frame is testament to Asia’s dynamism.”

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) becomes thefirst Korean university to acquire QS 5-Star Rating

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) has become the first university in Korea to participate in the QS Stars Rating and has successfully acquired certification as a 5-Star University. The rating was carried out by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

The QS Stars Rating differs from existing world university ranking systems in that it examines 8 areas - education, study, employment, infrastructure, internationalisation, Industry-University Collaboration and volunteer work. Each category is rated between 1 - 5 stars based on the different category evaluation. To acquire a 5-Star rating, the University should satisfy the given standard grade as well as the minimum threshold on the 5 compulsory indexes.

SKKU, which was established in 1398, is the oldest university in Asia and is among the highest ranked

private universities in Korea. Gaining the QS 5-Star certification provides SKKU another objective criterion to reinforce its competitiveness amongst the world’s top universities. In collaboration with Samsung and under the leadership of SKKU President Jun Young Kim, the university has made significant and multidirectional advances in research and education.

Currently over 100 universities across 17 countries, including the United States and England, have participated in the QS-Star Ratings. The process is expected to continue receiving support from universities as it complements the existing university rating systems due to the fact that it provides universities and stakeholders with objective information from diverse perspectives. SKKU’s participation in the 5-Star certification has also further enhanced its position within higher education globally.

New York University Shanghai, China’s first Sino-US higher education institute, will start to admit students in 2013.

The university is a joint partnership between New York University in the United States and East China Normal University in China.

The university plans to enroll about 300 undergraduate students, with Chinese students making up half of the student body.

Chinese students will be chosen based on the results of their national college entrance exams, while non-Chinese students will be selected through NYU’s global system.

New York University and East China Normal University to open first Sino-US university

Jordan University of Science and TechnologyConfident Steps Towards Internationalization

www.just.edu.jo

The NYU Shanghai campus will be based at the Pudong Lujiazui area. The site will not be built until 2014, so the first intake of students for NYU Shanghai will study at the campus of the East China Normal University.

“NYU Shanghai is an important advance in developing China’s higher education and boosting its internationalization,” said Yu Lizhong.

NYU Shanghai’s classes will be taught in English. The university will offer seven majors, including natural sciences, math, engineering, life science, finance, economics and arts.

International students at the historic SKKU campus founded in 1398

A group of graduates from South Africa’s Rhodes University are planning to cycle across Britain, swim the English Channel and row across the Atlantic Ocean to try and raise R1 million for a rural outreach project.The Ubunye Challenge begins with an 1407km cycle and ends in December with a 4427km paddle from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean.

Cameron Bellamy, the organiser of the Challenge, explains the motivation behind his endeavour. “The Eastern Cape was my home for a number of important years of my life. The province has been neglected in the past; as such I’ve chosen to focus my energy on it as I would love to bring it closer in realising its full potential.”

The Ubunye Challenge aims to raise about R3-million for Grahamstown’s Angus Gillis Foundation (AGF) and the Africa Foundation.

Bellamy chose to support the Angus Gillis Foundation because of its association with the Eastern Cape, an area which Bellamy has strong feelings for due to his time at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University alumni to row across the Atlantic for charity

QS News-2-WOW-U is a quarterly newsletter published by QS Asia Quacquarelli Symonds, the Singapore-based regional subsidiary of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, producer of the widely respected QS World University Rankings in London. www.qsnews2wow-u.com

Editorial Profile QS News-2-WOW-U features news, views and pictures on higher education achievements and developments in Asia, Middle East and Africa that are extraordinary, outstanding and unusual.

Circulation ProfileUp to 5,000 complimentary copies of the print edition are sent to the presidents of universities in Asia, Middle East and Africa. Copies are also distributed at QS events worldwide, including QS-APPLE and QS-MAPLE international higher education conferences, and QS WorldClass globalisation seminar.

The online edition is also emailed to our database of over 100,000 university academics and administrators across the world.

Editorial ContactsEditor: Tan Hwee Hwee (hweehwee.tan@qs-asia.com); Assistant Editor: Dillon Yong (dillon.yong@qs-asia.com)

Advertising Sales ContactManaging Director: Mandy Mok (mm@qs.com) Advertisement Coordinator: Jessica Wang (jessica.wang@qs-asia.com)

Design and Print ManagementSimon Yeo (simon.yeo@qs-asia.com)

Copyright © QS Asia Quacquarelli Symonds Pte Ltd 20 Sin Ming Lane #02-61 Midview City, Singapore 573968 Tel: +65 6457 4822; Fax: +65 6457 7832; Email: enquiries@qs-asia.com.

MICA (P) 190/07/2011

News2WOWU

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Two African students at Cornell University worked together to create a stylish hooded bodysuit loaded with insecticides that can repel mosquitoes infected with malaria.

The students’ invention is important as malaria is a serious problem in Africa, killing 655,000 Africans every year.In Africa, the most common way of fighting malaria is through the use of insecticide-treated nets. The mosquito suit is superior to the nets as the insecticide does not dissipate easily. The students bind the repellant with the fabric at the nanolevel using metal organic framework molecules, so the suit can be filled with up to three times more insecticide than those found in mosquito nets.

“The bond on our fabric is very difficult to break,” said Frederick Ochanda, postdoctoral associate in Cornell’s Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design, who is from Kenya. “The nets in use now are dipped in a solution and not bonded in this way, so their effectiveness doesn’t last very long.”

The look of the suit was designed by Matilda Ceesay, a Cornell apparel design undergraduate from Gambia. She showed off the suit at the Cornell Fashion Collective fashion show. The garment is made up of a one-piece body suit, which comes in the colours of purple, gold and blue, and also includes a mesh hood and cape containing the repellant. Ceesay says that her outfit “explores and modernises traditional African silhouettes and textiles by embracing the strength and sexuality of the modern woman.”

Ochanda and Ceesay were inspired to design the anti-malaria suit because

African students design fashionable anti-malaria bodysuit

they have had family members who were infected by the disease. “It’s so common back home, you can’t escape it,” Ceesay said.

“Seeing malaria’s effect on people in Kenya, it’s very important for me to apply fiber science to help this problem,” Ochanda added. “A long-term goal of science is to be able to come up with solutions to help protect human health and life, so this project is very fulfilling for me.”

“Although there are already mosquito nets being used, the solution isn’t foolproof,” Ceesay said. “People are still getting sick and dying. We can’t get complacent. I hope my design can show what is possible when you bring together fashion and science and will inspire others to keep improving the technology. If a student at Cornell can do this, imagine how far it could go.”

Cameron Bellamy

Cornell student adds final touches to anti-malaria suit

Model shows off anti-malaria suit at fashion show

Kenya set to increase funding to universitiesby 36%

Universities in Kenya will receive KSh60 billion (US$732 million) next year, up from the KSh44 billion they received in the current fiscal year. This means the government is giving a 36% boost to the higher education sector.

Part of the funding will be used to help build the Open University of Kenya, a new institution which reaches students through e-learning and print media, so that they can study from home. The Open University will start off with 10 regional centres.

The Kenyan government is increasing funding in higher education to cope with the surge of students seeking to enroll in university.

It is estimated that there will be an additional 40,000 students who will seek entrance to university over the next three years. The increased funding is meant to support this growth in student numbers.

The Higher Education Loans Board is seeking an additional KSh1.5 billion. To be renamed the Higher Education Financing Agency in July, the new agency will start offering loans to students in mid-level colleges, a change from its current policy where it only gives money to students in universities.

5th QS WorldClass records second highest turnout

Top leaders of universities around the world attended the recent 5th QS WorldClass, an event organised for University Presidents, Chancellors and Rectors. Held on the beautiful island of Jeju, South Korea, the event had one of its highest turn-outs ever, with 100 delegates from 31 countries, including Australia, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and UK.

Prof Bertil Andersson, President of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, kicked off the first presentation by addressing higher education rankings and how it is becoming particularly influential in Asia. He also touched on the success of NTU in transforming itself from

a Chinese Language University to an International University that is currently ranked 58th in the world.

The main highlight of the event however, was the panel discussion session whereby the debate on the university ranking system drew great interest. Participants debated openly with no holds barred.

Prof Bertil said: “QS World University Rankings is still the best among others in the higher education sector. QS have made every effort to ensure it can deliver the results as accurately as possible.”

Prof Yang Liang-Yo from Taipei Medical University (TMU) Taiwan wrapped up the event by announcing that TMU will co-host 6th QS WorldClass 2013 in Taiwan with QS Asia.

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Top leaders from universities around the world network at 5th QS WorldClass

Monash opens new graduate school in China

Monash University has been granted a license to open a new graduate school in Suzhou, near Shanghai. This makes Monash the first Australian university to be granted a license to set up in China.

Monash is partnering with China’s

Southeast University (SEU) to create the new graduate school. More than 1400 students are expected to enroll in the new campus.

The new graduate school has been endorsed by China’s Ministry of Education and will be known as the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou). Students will enroll in the school later this year.

The Graduate School will offer subjects like nanotechnology, biomedicine, environmental science, transportation, industrial design, economics, software, thermal and mechanical engineering.Students at the Graduate School will receive degrees from both SEU and Monash.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash University, Professor Ed Byrne said the

Ed Byrne, Vice-Chancellor of Monash University

partnership was part of Monash’s plan to internationalise.

“This is an exciting development for both Monash and Southeast University,” Professor Byrne said.“The partnership allows us to prepare students to be international citizens, equipped to meet the rigours of a workforce in transition.

“China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with an impressive record of innovation. This makes it an ideal location for a progressive university such as Monash.”

Dean of the Monash Faculty of Engineering and Vice-President of the University’s Indian and Chinese Initiative, Professor Tam Sridhar said, “This agreement reflects SEU’s understanding of Monash University’s research and education excellence.”

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Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais has become Brazil’s first ever ‘Four-star university’ in a new global rating initiative, launched as an alternative to university rankings. Unlike rankings, QS Stars rates universities against international standards, both overall and in a range of key performance indicators. As well as being awarded four out of five stars overall, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais received maximum five-star ratings in the following areas: employability, teaching, facilities, innovation and engagement. The first international assessment of its kind, QS Stars has been devised by the research team behind the annual QS World University Rankings. Designed to overcome the limitations of university league tables, rankings expert Dr Ellen Hazelkorn of Dublin

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais excels in first ever global university rating initiative

Institute of Technology has called the system “a smart and inevitable development in the higher education knowledge business”. “QS Stars has the potential to revolutionise the way we measure university performance,” says John O’Leary, editor of The Times Good University Guide. “It covers areas that have proved to be beyond the scope of international rankings, such as teaching, employment rates and access, as well as strength in specialist disciplines.”

It is envisaged that ratings will eventually be extended to a far greater number of universities than is included in international rankings.

QS Head of Research Ben Sowter states: “With concerns about graduate unemployment and rising tuition fees in many countries around the world, students need a more comprehensive way of comparing universities than rankings can provide. QS Stars is able to provide a far greater range of evidence about the performance of an unlimited number of universities, helping students make smarter and better-informed decisions.”

“I think most universities will use QS Stars,” states Jennie Lang, pro-vice chancellor at University of New South Wales. “Increasingly, discerning students will say ‘show me the evidence’. I sense that this is what the future is going to be - students wanting us not just to make assertions, but to back them up.”

A professor at the University of Georgia College of Public Health, Christopher Whalen, has been given a five-year, $2.82 million grant to study how tuberculosis is spread in Africa. The grant was given to Whalen by the National Institutes of Health.

Whalen will work with researchers in Uganda, including Dr. Noah Kiwanuka, a professor and doctor from Makerere University.

Whalen is planning to go to Uganda twice a year during the period of the grant, with help from a research

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah invests SR 81.5 billion in education

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is planning to invest SR 81.5 to boost the higher education sector of his country.A ceremony was held to launch the higher education projects at the Al-Yamamah Palace and was attended by high-ranking Saudi officials including Minister of Higher Education Khalid Al-Anqari.

Saudi Arabia plans to add a total of 18 higher education cities and academies. These projects will be located at different parts of the Kingdom including Jazan, Baha, Najran, the region near northern borders, Tabuk, Jouf, Hail, Shaqra, Majmaah, Taibah, Qassim, Taif and Kharj.

This will be in addition to the construction of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz City for Female Students at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, a female hostel at King Saud University and another female hostel in Umm Al-Qura University.Saudi Arabia is planning to invest a lot of money in higher education. The country’s national budget this year will increase education spending by 135 percent.

Another boost to the higher education sector comes through the Ninth Five-Year Development Plan, where from 2010 to 2014, the capacity for universities will be increased to 1.7 million students.

Saudi Arabia also plans to expand and diversify graduate studies. This comes in the form of an establishment of 10 research centers, 15 university technological innovation centers in association with King Abdullah City for Science and Technology (KACST), and at least eight technology incubators at KACST and other universities. The government will also continue to promote university collaboration with international companies.

Professor receives $2.82 million to study tuberculosis in Uganda

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coordinator from the College of Public Health who will travel to Uganda two to three times annually. Researchers will also monitor the progress of the work and assist Whalen’s team from the University of Georgia.

“The whole idea is to try and better understand how TB transmission is occurring within the different communities in Africa,” Whalen said. “We’ve come to realize that in order to control TB effectively, we need to block and reduce the amount of transmission.”

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais receives ‘Four-star university’ rating

The Wireless Networks and Applications Centre at Amrita University has been actively involved in the research and development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Real-Time Landslide Monitoring.

As part of this research, Amrita has developed and deployed India’s first Wireless Sensor Network for Landslide Detection and India’s first Landslide Laboratory Setup.

Along with the real-time deployment, large and medium scale landslide laboratory setups have been developed for conducting extensive experimentation to gain a better understanding of landslide phenomena, in order to help

The Reformed Church in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe, plans to open the country’s 14th university. The Reformed Church University (RCU) will be the second university in Masvingo, after the Great Zimbabwe University.

The Reformed Church University will be the first in Zimbabwe to offer a specialised degree focused on the disabled – an Honours degree in Special Needs Education.

Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Wiseman Magwa, said, “We want to further consolidate Zimbabwe’s top position in Africa in terms of education and we feel that by introducing a degree programme targeting disabled students, the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe would have played a key role in making sure that we have an educated citizenry that is the envy of the entire African continent.”

Zimbabwe’s 14th university will start with three departments, namely, Education, Commerce, and Theology and Religious Studies. The Chancellor, Reverend Dr Enos Chomutiri, said they had raised US$3 million for construction.

assess the risk of a landslide at the deployment site.

The real-time network is deployed in Munnar in the state of Kerala, India. The deployment location has experienced numerous landslides, of which the latest, in 2005, caused a death toll of 10 people and an enormous amount of infrastructural damage.

The deployment area covers seven acres of the mountain with the network consisting of approximately 25 wireless sensor nodes forming the two-layer hierarchical network. The data transmitted from the WSN is sent via a directional Wi-Fi link to a Field Management Centre, one km away, from where it is then forwarded over the satellite link to a sophisticated landslide data processing and modelling centre, located 300 km away at the Amritapuri campus of Amrita University.

The system has successfully issued warnings of possible landslide and has saved the loss of human lives. The Government of India has shown interest to deploy this system in all landslide prone areas including the Himalayas and the Konkan Region.

Amrita university develops India’s first wireless sensor network for landslide detection

First degree from university in Zimbabwe focused on studying the disabled

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Wireless landslide detection station

Boost your knowledge and make valuable contacts at QS-APPLE

November is always an exciting time for the academic community in Asia, as we stage the region’s biggest higher education conference.

This year, more than 800 international expert speakers and university leaders will convene at 8th QS-APPLE (Asia Pacific Professional Leaders in Education) conference in Bali on 14-16 November. They will be there to learn,

network and explore partnerships. An exciting programme and enriching experience awaits you.

Last November, delegates from 187 institutions in 33 countries and 88 speakers from 22 countries participated in 7th QS-APPLE in Manila.

2012 organising partner: Bogor Agricultural University

Visit www.qsapple.org for more information.

See you at 8th QS-APPLE in Bali this November!

South Africa and Australia are to share the US$2 billion Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, which will become the most powerful telescope of its kind when it is fully operational in 2024.

The gigantic Square Kilometre Array radio telescope will be 50 times more sensitive than the world’s current radio telescopes.

South Africa will host most of the Square Kilometre Array dishes. All of the mid-frequency arrays will be in Africa, while the low-frequency arrays will be built in Australia.

South Africa’s telescope site will be in the Karoo semi-desert and be connected to a network of dishes across sub-Saharan Africa. The network is made up of countries like Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia and Zambia.

The Australian site will be at Mileura station in western Australia, with antennae distributed across the country and New Zealand.

Dr Michiel van Haarlem, interim director general of the SKA Organisation, said, “The SKA will transform our view of the universe; with it we will see back to the moments after the Big Bang and discover previously unexplored parts of the cosmos.”

The Square Kilometre Array radio telescope will enable scientists to investigate many mysteries of the universe, including how the first Black Holes and stars were born, why it is expanding and whether there is life beyond Earth. Scientists will also be able to study dark energy, magnetic fields and extraterrestrial signals.

South Africa and Australia to share world’s largest telescopeProfessor Andrew Kindness, dean of University of KwaZulu-Natal’s school of chemistry and physics said, “The establishment of the SKA will undoubtedly open a new chapter of learning and space investigation, not only in South Africa, but in other emerging African countries.

If there was ever a reason for students to excel at school, the awarding of this mega telescope and the enormous international spin-off in research endeavours, should be a compelling reason to achieve.”

Professor of Physics and Senior Research Associate at University of KwaZulu-Natal, Manfred Hellberg, said: “Historically we are a scientifically enriched nation, great enquiring minds, cutting edge empirical science.

We are up there with the best and we have a proactive government. So yes, it’s a very exciting prospect, not only for me, but the group of leading South African scientists.”

Radio Telescope

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for the Middle East in Higher Education

Co-hosted by

Participate in our inaugural seminar

QS in conversation with the Middle Eastto stay in touch and connected to advance in the world of higher education

Tuesday 18 September 2012 • Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, UAECo-host: Dubai International Academic City

Sign up for the seminar today!To register or for more information, please visit www.qsinconversation.com.

For enquiries, please contact:Middle East - Mr Ashwin Fernandes at tel: +65 9338 0322 or email: ashwin@qs.com

Rest of the world - Ms Mandy Mok at tel: +65 9841 9121 or email: mm@qs.com

A World-Class UniversityLeading Korea's Globalization1st in Korea - Comprehensive Ranking on the Globalization Index3rd in the World- 45 Languages and Area Studies Programs 420 Exchange Agreements from 76 Countries

Since its founding in 1954, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies has pioneered the way forward for Korea, leading the country’s economic growth

and globalization. The global network of 100,000 HUFS alumni reachs every corner of the world and is recognized as a valuable national asset in

the era of globalization. In combination with the humanities, social studies, science, and engineering, HUFS leverages languages to produce next-

generation global leaders.

<HUFS Profile-Creating a Global Future, Global Talents>

CampusesSeoul Campus Global Campus (Yongin)Songdo Campus (Planned)

Colleges

Seoul Campus 10 Colleges, 34 DepartmentsGlobal Campus (Yongin) 7 Colleges, 42 Departments

Graduate School 8 Graduate Schools

Research Institutes 3 Centers, 27 Institutes

Total No. of Faculty Members 617

No. of International Professors 187

No. of Students23,879 undergraduate students 3,253 graduate students

No. of International Students 1,168

Total Alumni 110,000

• 30-30-30-30 Strategy HUFS implements “30-30-30-30 strategy” to cultivate future leaders of the global era. Specifically, HUFS is increasing the proportion of international faculty, international students, lectures in foreign languages, and HUFS students studying abroad to over 30 percent. In this way, HUFS is nurturing talented students with international acumen and practical capabilities.

<HUFS Global Power-Toward a World-class University>

• 7+1 Visiting Student Program HUFS encourages students to study at an overseas university for at least one out of the eight semesters of their undergraduate years to gain a more international focus.

•Student Exchange Program Under the student exchange program, HUFS and a sister university overseas sign an agreement allowing for students from either institution to complete and receive academic credit for coursework taken at each other’s campuses.

•The International Summer Session (ISS) The International Summer Session (ISS) at HUFS, offered continuously since 2003, provides a unique opportunity to undergraduates, graduate students, and independent scholars, who want to deepen their understanding of Korea and East Asia. ISS provides students with a carefully planned, intensive 5-week curriculum. International diversity among the student body, as well as among the faculty, is one of the hallmarks of our program.

<HUFS Specialized Programs – Meet the Pride of HUFS>

•HUFS-KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Master’s Degree ProgramHUFS also runs HUFS-KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Master’s Degree. This program is especially designed to offer curricula for public officials in developing countries who seek high-quality education in international development.

•University for Peace The United Nations-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) was established in Costa Rica in Central America in 1980 through resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly. Students in the HUFS-UPEACE dual master's degree program can take courses in Korea and Costa Rica for one year each and earn two master's degrees from the HUFS Graduate School of International Area Studies and UPEACE concurrently.

For further information on HUFS, please visit www.hufs.ac.kr

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 107 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-791, Korea

View of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Campuses

Institute of Technology have set up their campus here.

“We will need to build a hub where we can retain local students and build a regional reputation by providing access to high-quality education and training for both international and domestic students,” Mohamed Khaled said.

“As we transition to becoming a high-income economy, the creation of knowledge becomes vital. These universities create access to competitive education programmes for both the local and international student population and a pathway to promote knowledge transfer and create a knowledge generation to drive economic sustainability.”

The Malaysian government has also been keen on investing in distance and online learning. The Economic Transformation Programme’s (ETP) Education National Key Economic Area (NKEA) aims to increase the international online student enrolment from 7,000 in 2010 to 130,000 in 2020.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, the Asia e-University (AeU) was created by 31 Asian countries who are part of the Asian Corporative Dialogue (ACD).

To increase the number of students using online learning, AeU has created a platform known as Malaysia Education Online (MEdO), which offers programmes from various Malaysian universities. Since Malaysia Education Online has started, it has reached out to 1,500 international online distance learning students.

Malaysia becomes a rising hub for higher education

Malaysia has seen tremendous growth in its higher education sector recently, becoming a major hub for excellence in Asia.

Malaysia is now the world’s 11th largest exporter of educational services with over 90,000 international students from over 100 nations studying in the country.

One reason for the growth in students is the efforts the Malaysian government has taken to make entry into the Malaysian education system easier.

Mohamed Khaled, the Minister of Higher Education, said: “The setting up of the Education Malaysia Global Services to facilitate and administer faster visa processing services for international students offers a supportive environment for students who choose to study here.

“We have also set up an online registration and application portal to streamline all international applications under the Student Application and Registration System (STARS).”

A significant achievement for Malaysian higher education is the setting up of universities through the EduCity@Iskandar. A total of eight international universities namely Curtin University Sarawak, Monash University Malaysia, Nottingham University Malaysia, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Newcastle University of Medicine, University of Southampton Malaysia Campus, Raffles University and Netherland Maritime

Students from Oman become first to enter Formula One race car competition

Students from Oman’s Caledonian College of Engineering have set their hearts to be the first group of students from the Middle East to design and build a Formula One race car for the international Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competition.

The students call themselves Team Oryx of Caledonian. The team faces substantial challenges. While other universities have teams that have sports engineering departments and facilities and equipment to make sports cars, Caledonian College has no such programmes. “It’s a challenge to see if we can or cannot build and run a racing car,”said team leader Haitham Al Saqri, an electrical engineering student.

Students from Caledonian College have to come together from different engineering departments to pool their skills.

“These students are creating their own sports engineering and bringing together the skills from different disciplines,” said Jenny Walker, Associate Dean for Professional Development at Caledonian.

The car project is expected to take up to nine months to complete.

“Once we have the drawings and designs, we have to bring the car from the sketches into reality. We will have to build some of the machines and some we’ll have to outsource, such as the engine,” Al Saqri said. “We’re starting from nowhere.”

“The project is all about an opportunity for leadership and these students have shown great leadership. It takes a lot of effort to take a big project this far down the line, and I’m really proud of them,” said Walker.

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A total of 147 participants from 74 institutions in 33 countries attended the 2nd QS-MAPLE in Durban, the first time it was held in Africa.

The event was organised by QS Asia and co-hosted by University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was held in the beautiful hotel of Southern Sun Elangeni.

42 presenters discussed issues facing Africa and the Middle East higher education system and the challenges of achieving global recognition. Some of the key presenters include the Former Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa, Dr Mosibudi Mangena and Secretary-General of Association of African Universities, Professor Olugbemiro Jegede.

Mr Richard Yelland, Head of Education

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, is planning a project that will help it become Pakistan’s first “green” university, reducing the pollution it produces. The project involves a five megawatt solid waste power generation plant.

The power plant will generate electricity through the use of geothermal energy, a process which is gaining popularity around the world. By using this technology, the university could generate cheap power costing just six cents, while thermal power costs 18 cents per unit.

As Pakistan’s southern coastal area stretches over 1,300 kilometres, this means the area has the potential to generate 75 megawatts of electricity per kilometre.

The coastal area also has fast wind speed of up to 50 kilometres per hour, while the required wind speed to run the generation units was eight kilometres per hour.

Management and Infrastructure Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), delivered the opening speech highlighting the issue of the growing number of students globally and the need for higher-level skills in the knowledge economy.

37% of attendees were from South Africa and we had 42 presenters taking part in respective parallel sessions and country reports.

Overall, QS-MAPLE was a success as seen by the comments from the attendees. Delegates commented on the high quality of the papers presented and praised the event for being smooth and well organised.

Next year, the 3rd QS-MAPLE will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa and be hosted by Nanyang Technological University and University of Johannesburg.

For delegates looking for a more Middle Eastern focus, they can take part in the seminar, QS in conversation with the Middle East, a special QS seminar presenting best practice and strategic advice for Middle Eastern universities seeking to internationalise and achieve global recognition.

QS-MAPLE takes place in Africa for the first timeUniversity of Agriculture, Faisalabad poised to be first green university in Pakistan

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A speaker presenting his paper at 2nd QS-MAPLE

Gain valuable insights and engage in fruitful networking at QS-MAPLE

This year’s 2nd QS-MAPLE (Middle East and Africa Professional Leaders in Education) conference in Durban in May was a resounding success. Many international delegates and speakers left with fresh insights,

new friends and fond memories of captivating Durban.

Next year, QS-MAPLE moves to Johannesburg, South Africa, where it will be co-hosted by University of Johannesburg and Nanyang Technological University.

Come and join 250 other international participants to learn, debate, network and explore partnerships.

Make a date with 3rd QS-MAPLE on 7-8 May 2013. Visit www.qsmaple.org for more information.

See you at 3rd QS-MAPLE in Johannesburg next May!

Maud Chifamba, who is only 14 years old, will be studying to be an accountant at the University of Zimbabwe in August.

“I have always wanted to be one of those professionals and this is a chance I will grasp with both hands and cherish,” she said. “It’s not everyone who is fortunate enough to have this opportunity.”

Maud credits her success to God, who has helped the young girl thrive in spite of the tough challenges that she has faced.

Maud grew up in the Hunters resettlement community near the Midlands mining town of Kwekwe.Her father died in 2002, when she was only four and her mother died in December last year.

“I grew up in difficult circumstances and I would sometimes study on my own without going to school,” she said.

Maud started her studies in a resettlement primary school in 2003. She impressed her teachers with her abilities and so they moved her up from Grade 3 to Grade 6.

She took her Grade 7 examinations in 2007 when she was only nine, scoring top marks for all her subjects.

She then skipped the first two years of high school education, studying on her own for her O levels.

University of Zimbabwe vice-chancellor Professor Levi Nyangura said: “There was no financial support for her to undertake her secondary education. Maud read on her own and still managed to pass her O levels in two years.”

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) hosted the inaugural Higher Education Planning in Asia (HEPA) Forum on March 27-28, 2012.

It was the first higher education planning forum in Asia, where university planning professionals across Asia gathered, networked and exchanged ideas.

The forum had a live exchange with US higher education planners via video-link to the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) Pacific Region Conference at Stanford University. The video-link was notable because more than 450 university planners attended the session. The participants were highly appreciative of the interactivity across the continents. When the audiences and panelists of both continents freely interacted via the video-link, it almost felt like they were sitting in the same room!

Initiated by the HKUST Office of

Maud Chifamba

14 year old girl enrolls in University of ZimbabweMaud’s brother, Gilbert Chifamba said that his sister had succeeded because of her strong discipline. “We thought she would just lose her mind on the way but she stood the taste of time, we hope God will continue to lead her,” said Gilbert.

Maud was able to continue her A-level studies at Sandringham High School in Mhondoro when platinum mining company Zimplats decided to sponsor her studies in 2010. Maud scored 12 points in her A-level exams, allowing her to enter the University of Zimbabwe.

Planning and Institutional Research, the Organising Committee of the HEPA Forum comprised members from the National University of Singapore, City University of Hong Kong and University of Canterbury.

The 2-day Forum provided a platform for university planners across Asia to interact, share best practices and network. The theme of the Forum was: Building a World-class University – The Role of Planning Professionals.

On the first day, HEPA participants listened to the opening plenary talk by Martha J. Kanter, US Undersecretary of Education. During the “Pecha Kucha” session on the next day, 3 HEPA speakers and 2 SCUP speakers shared their perspective on leadership in cross-continent partnerships.

Through the insightful presentations of speakers and engagement of the participants in the interactive workshop, the audience felt that they had benefitted a great deal from attending the Forum.

HKUST hosts the first higher education planning forum in Asia

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University spokesman Dennis Rwafa said Maud was a “remarkable” young girl.

“Her perseverance and her achievements are amazing. Now she will study towards an honours degree in accountancy.

“We felt we needed to protect her and so we brought in the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority,” said Rwafa.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has agreed to pay Maud’s fees for her four year accountancy course at the University of Zimbabwe.

Live video link at Higher Education Planning in Asia (HEPA) Forum

Nobel Prize winner visits Taipei Tech

The winner of the Nobel Prize 2011, Professor Dan Shechtman, visited National Taipei University of Technology (TAIPEI TECH) and delivered a fascinating lecture on chemistry. He conducted experiments in front of the students and explained how he discovered quasicrystals 30 years ago.

Accompanied by President Leehter, Yao, Vice-President Chii-Ruey, Lin, Vice-President Sea-Fue, Wang of TAIPEI TECH, and co-operative researcher An-Pang, Tsai (professor of Tohoku University as well as alumnus of TAIPEI TECH), Professor Shechtman first stopped at the Presidential Office Building and was hosted by President Ying-Jeou, Ma. President Ma was greatly impressed by Professor Shechtman’s devotion to his research. In order to honour Shechtman, Professor Director-General of National Immigration Agency (NIA) Li-Kung, Hsieh presented the Business and Academic Travel Card to Professor Shechtman on behalf of the Taiwan government.

During Professor Shechtman’s lecture in TAIPEI TECH, the lecture hall was crowded with students from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, and Department of Molecular Science and Engineering. They watched crystals through transmission electron microscopes all together. Professor Shechtman took the students back to the scenario when he first found quasicrystals 30 years ago, a discovery which created a revolution in the field of physics and chemistry. He was thrilled to have this opportunity to share his lifelong passion with a younger generation.

The students posed many questions to the professor: what brand of microscope does the professor use, what time did the professor discover quasicrystals, what was it like being in the spotlight. The students were amazed and inspired by the professor’s wit and humour in his answers to their questions.

Nobel Prize winner Professor Dan Shechtman talks to students at Taipei Tech

QS has launched QS AIM, the first website for academics looking for jobs around the world.

The QS AIM web site now lists over 2000 jobs. They are mainly from top academic nations such as Australia, the UK and the US, as well as mainland Europe, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.

So far, QS AIM has seen job seeker visits from over 163 countries.

A representative from RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) says, “The time is right for QS AIM. A few sites work well in specific countries but nothing currently works well across all prime international source countries. Most job boards are localised and target their region-specific talent.”

Tony Martin, Project Director of QS AIM, says: “QS AIM is a global jobs portal for the academic world. We started it because we know that universities are more likely than ever before to mount a global search for faculty. They want a more international, and higher-quality, academic workforce. The nationally-oriented media in which most academic job advertising appears at the moment get about 90 per cent of their business from their home country.”

QS AIM helps universities to source for job seekers around the world, gathering job advertising at a central source and supplementing it with content such as country guides and higher education news, meeting the needs of the expatriate academic.

QS AIM launches first job portal for academics

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New universities feature strongly in the top rankings for Asian universities, QS Asian University Rankings.

Many of these universities are less than 50 years old. In fact, the combined age of the entire top ten of the Asian universities is less than that of the University of Cambridge, averaging just 77.5 years.

The top 10 universities in the Asian University Rankings 2012 are Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, University of Hong Kong, Seoul National University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Peking University, KAIST – Korea Advanced

Young universities impress in Asian University Rankings

Institute of Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Kyoto University.

Asian universities are taking advantage of their booming economies. While universities in the West are tightening their belts, increased spending power of the likes of China, Singapore and South Korea has led to a rise in rankings of universities from those countries. China doubled its main scientific research budget between 2009 and 2011, while universities in Singapore and Korea have benefited from multi-million dollar investment programmes.