Universities around the world are in intense competition to attract foreign students, with a soaring number of students going abroad to study in this global era. The United States is the most favored destination. Though many want to return home after finishing their studies, some remain in America to contribute to its economic and scientific development. Drawing the world`s best and brightest students plays a key role in advancing a country. In the past, the United States attracted 60 percent of overseas students, but now faces a decline in university enrollment as higher education undergoes rapid globalization.
Attracting foreign students is more than recruiting talented scholars because it generates a profitable industry. When attracting overseas students, their spending on tuition fees, living expenses and visits by their families benefits the host country뭩 service revenues. Universities can enhance their image while earning profits from tuition. For this reason, a number of governments are keen to treat higher education as an industry. A case in point is Goethe House, or Campus France.
Japan is far ahead of other Asian countries in attracting foreign students. In 1983, then Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone unveiled a plan on admitting 100,000 foreign students. Twenty five years later, that number has risen to 120,000. One problem, however, is that Chinese students accounted for 74 percent and Korean students 14 percent of Japan foreign students. The language barrier made it difficult to evaluate a student scholastic ability. To resolve the problem, Japan adopted two languages for use in administering the Japanese Language Proficiency Test for those who want to attend university in Japan.
In the face of declining student enrollment and growing financial difficulty, Korean universities is trying to attract foreign students. The number of overseas students reached 63,952 in April this year. The government announced the Study Korea project aimed to attract 100,000 foreign students by 2010. Korea has a similar problem with Japan in that most foreign students are from China attracted mainly by relatively cheap tuition. The Lee administration should pay attention to the Japanese government diversification of its language test to attract more foreign students.
Editorial Writer Chung Sung-hee, (http://www.blogger.com/shchung@donga.com)
http://www.blogger.com/www.donga.com
Japanese Language Proficiency Test
Only 3% who barely pass math reach 20 on ACT
Only 3 percent of Chicago students who just barely pass the state's eighth-grade math test go on to hit at least a 20 on the ACT -- a score that could open the door to several state universities, a new University of Chicago study released today found.
Eighth-graders who want a solid shot at college need to do more than just pass the state math test; they need to score well into the "exceeding" state standards category, the study by the U. of C.'s Consortium on Chicago School Research indicates.
The study tracked 40,000 Chicago Public School students who took the Illinois Standards Achievement Test as eighth-graders and went on to take the ACT college admission exam in 2005, 2006 or 2007 as part of their junior-year state test.
It examined which CPS students made it to a 20 on the ACT -- a score CPS has set as a districtwide goal. In 2008, the average CPS graduate scored 17.7 on the ACT compared to 20.5 statewide.
John Easton, director of the U. of C. Consortium, was stunned to find that only 3 percent of CPS eighth-graders who hit the minimum passing score -- called "meeting state standards" -- in the math ISAT later scored a 20 on the ACT.
"I can't tell you how many times we checked to make sure it was right," Easton said.
At the very highest end of the "meets" category, the chances of making a 20 on the ACT rose to 56 percent, Easton said. Most CPS students in the "meets'' category were in the low to middle range. The average CPS "meets" student scored only 17.5 on the ACT.
Those who just made it into the "exceeding" state standards pool had a 62 percent shot of getting at least a 20 on the ACT.
Easton said the standards the eighth-grade exam tests may be too low for college-bound students.
State Schools Supt. Chris Koch said passing ISAT should reflect hitting grade level. However, he noted that several districts have complained that some eighth-graders who pass their ISATs need remedial help once they reach high school.
A recent study by the non-profit Achieve Inc. found many of the Illinois learning standards that ISATs and Illinois junior year exams test lack precision and suffer from "key gaps" in areas that "are essential for student success in college and the world of work." As a result, Koch said, the state has joined the American Diploma Project to compare its standards with national and international ones
BY ROSALIND ROSSI Education Reporter
www.suntimes.com
African-American enrollment increases in University of Michigan freshman class
After falling for several years, enrollment of African-American freshmen has rebounded at the University of Michigan, while two other underrepresented groups - Hispanics and Native Americans - dropped this year.
New enrollment numbers released today by U-M for the fall 2008 freshman class offer a mixed picture of how the voter-approved constitutional amendment banning affirmative action has affected university admissions.
The class includes 374 American-American students, an increase of 40 students over last year. The total is 6.8 percent of the freshman class, up from 5.8 percent last year.
The 199 Hispanic freshmen make up 3.6 percent of the class, down from 4.7 percent last year. The 31 Native American students make up 0.6 percent of the class, a slight drop as a percentage of the class.
As a percentage of the class, enrollment of underrepresented minority students, including black, Hispanic and Native Americans, dropped slightly.
"While we are pleased with holding our own with regard to enrolling underrepresented students, we cannot become complacent in our diversity efforts," said U-M President Mary Sue Coleman in a press release. "There is still much work to do."
The freshman class this fall includes 5,783 students, smaller than last year's. That includes international students and those who did not indicate their race.
White student enrollment, at 3,796, increased by 55 students. Enrollment of Asian American freshmen, at 686 students, decreased by 71.
This was the first class admitted entirely under a race-neutral system mandated by a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 2006. It took effect midway through the admissions cycle used to admit last fall's freshmen class.
"Underrepresented minority student enrollment has plummeted at several major public universities operating under similar laws in other states," said Senior Vice Provost Lester Monts. "We have worked hard to reach out aggressively to prospective students, to be sure they are aware of U-M's ongoing commitment to diversity."
by David Gershman - The Ann Arbor News
University of Arkansas' Free Fall Festival of the Arts Kicks Off Nov. 3
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Free Fall Festival of the Arts committee is pleased to present this year’s fall programming with a kickoff event in the Arkansas Union Connections Lounge with live art, free food and more, 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3.
The committee would like to invite everyone in the community to attend the various concerts, theatre productions, exhibits, readings and special performances that talented students and faculty produce throughout the year. On average, the university offers more than 300 concerts, eight main stage drama productions, and 10 art exhibits each year. The majority of these are free, or offered at a very affordable cost.
The university is proud to collaborate with the Walton Arts Center for this endeavor. The center offers an amazing number of diverse events in the arts throughout the year. Members of the festival committee hope the Fayetteville campus and community will enjoy themselves as they discover the myriad pleasures that the arts offer. The committee urges community members to explore the various festival offerings and join the campus in celebrating the value and the vitality of the arts. For a full schedule of events please call Natalie Feldman at 479-575-2240.
Monday, Nov. 3
12:30 p.m. — Living Sculpture Live Art in the Arkansas Union Connections Lounge
8 p.m. — Student Ensemble: Percussion Ensemble Recital. Walton Arts Center. Admission will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students.
Nov. 3-26
“2008 Small Works on Paper” will be presented in the Fine Arts Center Gallery.
Wednesday, Nov. 5
8 p.m. — Special screening of the silent film Redskin (1929), by director Victor Schertzinger, in honor of the University of Arkansas 15th annual Native American Symposium.
8 p.m. — Faculty Recital: Lyrique Quintet Recital. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center.
9 to 11 p.m. — Pentomino Jazz Lecture in the Arkansas Union Connections Lounge, sponsored by University Programs
Thursday, Nov. 6
7 to 9 p.m. — J.W. Baz Slam Poet in RZ’s, sponsored by University Programs
Friday, Nov. 7
8 p.m. — Choir Concert: “Faure Requiem” Concert. Schola Cantorum, Concert Choir, Master Chorale and UA Children’s Choir. Walton Arts Center. Admission will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students.
Saturday, Nov. 8
7:30 p.m. — Choir Concert: Inspirational Singers Concert. Walton Arts Center. Admission will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students.
Sunday, Nov. 9
3 p.m. — Faculty Concert: A Nonet Concert. With UA faculty and guests. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center.
7:30 p.m. — Symphony Concert: Wind Symphony and University Symphony Orchestra Concert. Walton Arts Center. Admission will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students.
Tuesday, Nov. 11
7:30 p.m. — Band concert Band spectacular. Walton Arts Center. Admission will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students.
Thursday, Nov. 13
8 p.m. — Guest Artist Recital: Vitaly Margulis Piano Recital. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center.
Monday, Nov. 17
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — International Bazaar in the Arkansas Union Connections Lounge. Sponsored by International Students and Scholars.
Thursday, Nov. 20
5 p.m. — Christopher B. Crosman, chief curator of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, will present an update on the museum’s art collections in Fine Arts Room 213.
6 p.m. — Sam King Reception Thursday in the Anne Kittrell Art Gallery
7 p.m. — Student Ensemble Recital: U of A Saxophone Chamber Ensemble Recital. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center.
Friday, Nov. 21
7:30 p.m. — Student Ensemble Recital: UA Jazz Ensemble Recital. Arkansas Union Theater.
Monday, Nov. 24
7:30 p.m. — Faculty Recital: Boston Mountain Brassworks Recital. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center.
Contact
Scott Flanagin, director of communications and outreach
Division of Students Affairs
479-575-6785, sflanagi@uark.edu
Natalie Feldman, graduate assistant, Free Fall Festival of the Arts
University Programs
479-575-2240
Daily Headlines - University of Arkansas
Kiplinger's declares UW-Madison a top value
Business magazine Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked the University of Wisconsin-Madison No. 14 in a national ranking of the best values in American public universities.
Kiplinger.com analyzed records for about 120 universities, focusing on measures of academic quality, overall cost and financial aid availability. For example, the magazine looked at standardized admission test scores, student-faculty ratios and overall graduation rates to determine quality, while focusing on tuition, available need-based assistance and average debt after graduation to determine affordability.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was deemed the nation's top value among publics. UW-Madison is the highest-ranked Big 10 campus, followed by Michigan (26th), Ohio State (27th) and Indiana (40th). UW-La Crosse (38th) and UW-Eau Claire (65th) also made the list.
UW-Madison ranked 14th in affordability for in-state students and 15th overall for non-resident students.
by Brian Mattmiller
http://www.news.wisc.edu/
