Smart Societies (smart-societies.com) is an active research project led by a group of growing number of individuals interested in themes of education, research and innovation in emerging economies. The project specifically examines the changing social, political, education and business landscapes and the forces and under-currents that are transforming economies in the Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin…
Category: Universities
How universities contribute to smarter societies through science, research and innovation.
Chinese Universities Become More Attractive For Budding Fortune 500 CEOs
By Michelle FlorCruz on September 06 2013 9:56 AM Many of China’s colleges and universities are becoming increasingly competitive, and according to a British study, they are attracting global talent and putting themselves on a global map of top institutions that’s been long dominated by American universities. A new study by British-based Times Higher Education has ranked the…
Australia-China scientific collaboration productive
By Xu Haijing CANBERRA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) — Dating back to 1960s, when Australia and China were yet to establish diplomatic relations, scientists from both countries had already started paying visits to each other. Half a century later, this relationship is described by Australian Chief Scientist Ian Chubb as scientifically productive and mutually beneficiary. Professor…
World rankings of universities
This week, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University released its latest annual Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The United States continues to dominate global higher education rankings with 17 universities in the top 20 and 149 in the top 500. Australian universities have been steadily improving. This year five institutions are in the top 100,…
Engaging Brazilian science
By Eugene Sebastian A couple of weeks ago the Australia Trade Commission – Austrade – reported dramatic increases in Brazilian Government’s ‘Science without Borders’ (SWB) scholarship students to Australia. The latest scholarship rounds, saw a total of 3231 applications to study in Australia in 2014, a 150 percent increase compared to the last call. Austrade…
India’s R&D Plans
By Eugene Sebastian India‘s new Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy was released in January 2013. It envisions placing India among the top five global scientific powers by 2020. It proposes to use STI for faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth with a focus both on STI for people and people for STI. It plans to boost innovation through research…
China’s looming graduate bubble
China faces a graduate bubble driven by rapid expansion in its higher education sector. Chinese graduates are finding it difficult to gain employment. In 1997, 400,000 students graduated from four-year university programs. Today, Chinese schools produce more than 3 million per year. Carl Minzner, from Fordham Law School argues that a rush to open universities…
Opportunities in India’s transforming R&D landscape
Over the next decade India’s research and development (R&D) sector is expected to undergo major changes as the Indian government progressively reforms and scales up public investments into science and technology. India’s rapidly changing R&D sector will create new opportunities for Australia as it seeks to advance its strategic relationship with India. India’s young demographic…
Education Trends in Japan and Korea
Below are some interesting education trends in Asia reported in the recent OECD Education Indicators 2013. Japan Teachers spend longer hours in school compared to other OECD countries. In 2011, public school teachers in primary to upper secondary education worked for 1 883 hours, more than the OECD average of 1 671 hours at primary…
Australia is preferred destination for many international students
According to the latest OECD indicators on education, the most significant feature of the tertiary education landscape in Australia is the large proportion of international students. Australia is a key destination for students from around the world, hosting more than 6% of the world’s foreign students. This figure places Australia as the third most popular…
5 ways to engage Asia’s innovation century
By Eugene Sebastian A couple of months ago, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade called for submissions that would help inform its whole-of-Australia approach to developing country strategies with the five Asia Pacific priority countries: China, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea. Nearly 250 submissions were submitted. One submission from Monash University…
State of Victoria emphasises innovation in South East Asia
The Premier of Victoria, Dr Denis Napthine, is leading a super trade mission of 450 business and education delegates to South East Asia. The delegation will focus on Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Higher education and research is a major focus of the visit. About five Victorian universities are accompanying the premier. They…
Silent transformation of India’s R&D
Authors: Eugene Sebastian and Mohan Krishnamoorthy Over the next decade India’s research and development (R&D) sector is expected to undergo major changes as the Indian government progressively reforms and scales up public investments into science and technology. India along with China is set to drive global R&D. According to latest data, global R&D spending is expected…
Are we promoting superficial and instant global higher education?
Guest Contributor: Phan Le Ha, Monash University Is the over-promotion of ‘the’ assumed unproblematic western styled approach to internationalising higher education leading to a superficial engagement with Asia? Late last year, the Australian Government formally linked the country’s future to its northern neighbours. Prime Minister Julia Gillard even declared: “Whatever else this country brings, it…
Why some universities international strategy fail
Why do some university international strategy fail? According to British researchers, the challenge tends to be largely due to internal rather that externally driven factors. In describing their research, they conducted interviews of senior management, marketing group and academics responsible for international strategy implementation at a medium sized university located in central England. Nan Jiang…
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