Blogs
Here Nuffic staff and external experts provide background information on current events and analyse ongoing developments in international higher education.
Trans-national education harms development cooperation
Currently in the Netherlands, trans-national education (TNE) is not a topic of discussion. If discussed at all, its desirability is only debated from a financial perspective and never from the developmental perspective. This is however highly needed with a view towards potential Dutch TNE activities in developing countries that are currently receiving Dutch governmental support to develop their higher education sectors. The question to be answered is whether pledging support through development cooperation on one hand and intervening through TNE on the other, can go hand in hand.
Where is higher education in the Post-2015 development agenda?
The United Nations recently published the Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The contents are the outcome of a global consultation process supported by a great number of expert studies and papers. The report sets out the next crucial phase in the Post-2015 process.
Do we need a ‘skills goal’ in the global development agendas?
It rained ‘skills’ reports in 2012
Benchmarking workshop
How do you set up a benchmarking exercise for internationalisation in higher education? This was the main question discussed during an in-company workshop presented by Nuffic staff.
Creating an international learning community
From 11-13 April the third international Integrating Content and Language in Higher Education (ICLHE) conference was held at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. The conference reflected the growing research interest in how the integration of discipline-specific content and learning through another language is achieved in practice.
Getting insight into training needs in the South: Comparing NFP TMT and Short Course Programmes
What does an analysis of TMT programme themes, in relation to NFP short course themes, tell us about the actual training needs in partner countries in the South?
Synergy in action: a new Nuffic publication
Coordination of capacity building programmes in higher education and research.
Tailor-made Training: Huge returns on investment
In our previous blog last Wednesday, we unpacked the key characteristics of the Tailor-made training modality. In the present blog we discuss cost effectiveness of the programme and how Nuffic is balancing this against the rising interest in the programme.
Tailor-made Training: A very effective capacity building instrument
Nuffic’s Tailor-made Training (TMT) programme is fast, flexible, responsive, relevant, demand-driven and target-oriented. In this blog, we unpack these adjectives of acclamation to illustrate just what it is that distinguishes this modality of capacity building.
2012 - The year of the MOOCs?
As usual a lot can happen in a year, and for 2012 this was not different. One of the developments that was highlighted by the end of the year by an initiative in the UK is the emergence of top universities offering free online courses. Can 2012 be baptised – among others – the year of the MOOCs (massive open online courses)?
Erasmus on budget – will there be funding?
Early this fall it became clear that the Erasmus student mobility grant is underfunded. This is due to earlier shortages in the EU budget and a lower budget for 2012 than the European Commission asked for in the negotiations with the European Parliament and member states. Overall, the European Commission needs € 9 billion euros extra for their 2012 expenditures, of which € 90 million is needed to comply with the agreements made for the Erasmus programme.
What international alumni appreciate about study and life in Holland
Nuffic conducted a study on what Holland Alumni from the countries where a Neso office is located, appreciated about their study and life in the Netherlands. What do the results tell us in relation to the potential to successfully attract and bind international alumni for the Dutch labour market?
The Value of an International Degree: Matching Expectations on Career Prospects to Reality
Nuffic recently conducted a study on the effect of a Dutch degree on the career prospects of alumni from Neso countries. What do the results tell us?
Can benchmarks on education output advise on international cooperation strategies?
Many countries and institutions seek cooperation with growth markets, such as the BRICs. A look at ranks on education output shows that these countries do not always score high. In some circles, this has raised a question: shouldn’t we focus more on co-operation with countries that traditionally score high on benchmarks, such as Finland and South Korea?
The Learning Curve: On tertiary education and internationalisation
As part of a project to create a better understanding of what leads to successful educational outcomes, Pearsons in collaboration with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published a report last week that received global press coverage. The report 'The Learning Curve. Lessons in country performance in education' formulates lessons and insights for policymakers to achieve better results on national education outcomes.
Online media crucial in study abroad communication?
Young people increasingly find information on education online. But is that also the case for study abroad options? Most literature is focussed on the use of online media in the recruitment for full degree programmes. In this blog we will discuss the use of online media to stimulate (short term) outgoing mobility.
New perspectives on Dutch capacity development programmes in post-secondary education and training
On 2-3 July the conference ‘Shaping the Future: new perspectives on Dutch cooperation in post-secondary education and training for sustainable development ’ took place in The Hague. The conference was organised by Nuffic on behalf of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss directions and perspectives for the design of new Dutch programmes for cooperation in post-secondary education and training.
The scramble for international alumni: Towards balanced benefits
Should students from developing countries, who are studying in developed countries, return home upon graduation to contribute to the development of their own economies? Or is it okay for their developed host countries to actively poach and retain them for the good of their own labour markets?
JDAZ - A reference guide on joint degrees
Joint degrees are high on the internationalisation agenda in the European Higher Education Area. This month a new project started titled ‘Joint Degrees from A to Z’ (JDAZ) The project, which Nuffic coordinates, aims to provide clarity by developing a reference guide on joint degrees. But why develop a new guide if so much has already been published about joint degrees over the last years? And how to make sure that such a guide keeps providing state of the art information?
Foreign vs Dutch education institutions in development programmes
Increasingly foreign higher education institutions are participating in the capacity development programmes in post- secondary education and training funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These 'non-Dutch' institutions get involved as partners in various consortia implementing a growing number of projects.