Educonnect Mid-June 2025 Edition
POPULAR STUDY DESTINATION UPDATES
USA l Mass Resignation Rocks Fulbright Board Amid Political Tensions
Eleven of the twelve members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have resigned, charging that the Trump administration has politically interfered in the selection of scholars, saying it erodes the statutory authority of the board and the integrity of the programme and raises questions about the autonomy and academic freedom of the programme. Read more here.
United Kingdom | New Aberdeen University Campus Opens in Mumbai, India
The University of Aberdeen has obtained permission to set up a branch campus at Mumbai, India, which is a major milestone in UK-India higher education collaboration that will deliver undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in areas of high demand such as computing, business management and AI. Read more here.
Australia | VET Rises as Government Rethinks Higher Education Priorities
Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector is increasingly politically fashionable in contrast to universities, with the government pursuing policies for a balanced 50-50 split between VET and higher education, as universities are accused of being less attuned to workforce requirements. Read more here.
Canada | Calls for Global Education Commitment at G7 Summit
Canadian education leaders urge the federal government to make education a priority at this summer’s G7 Summit and actively urge our federal government to make sure global leaders put public education on the agenda as a foundation of democracy, a health determinant, and a foundation for economic success. Read more here.
Ireland | Diversifies Global Connections and Reveals Comprehensive Education Plan
Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland has entered a strategic partnership with Texas-based Tarleton State University via a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Ireland’s Minister of Education has unveiled an Integrated Education Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2030, which is aligned to national interests and the global education vision of Ireland.Russia l Offers Students with Economic and Education Opportunities
Russia announced that it will grant up to 500,000 foreign students, including Nigerians, scholarships as part of the long-term plan to boost international academic cooperation, promote strategic sectors like nuclear energy and industrialisation through specialised education. Read more here.
Japan l Targets Research Excellence with Ambitious Policy Package
Japan has launched a ¥100 billion ($700 million) policy package to attract foreign researchers and make Japan one of the world’s top research talent destinations. Approximately 87 top Japanese universities are accelerating plans and making new budgets to welcome international researchers and students who are uncertain in the US.
Brazil l Offers Funded Graduate Scholarships via GCUB-Mob
The International Cooperation Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB) has declared the opening of the fourth edition of its highly competitive International Mobility Programme (GCUB-Mob), providing over 850 fully funded scholarship positions to international students seeking Master’s and Doctorate studies in Brazil. Read more here.
Singapore – Sri Lanka l Doctoral Scholarships, Research Ties Highlight Sri Lanka-NUS Deal
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education signed a historic MoU with the National University of Singapore (NUS) for greater higher education collaboration as a strategic step in developing Sri Lanka’s global academic networks and positioning Sri Lanka as a regional education hub. Read more here.
China l CUHK Builds International Bridges with Education & Innovation
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is enhancing internationalisation as part of Hong Kong’s vision as an international education hub to enable longer job placements and career advancement for international students in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Read more here.
Vietnam l FPT, Metropolia & Gyeongbuk Strengthen Vietnam Education Links
FPT University and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences are launching a joint ICT programme in Vietnam with Finnish degrees and Finland’s model of applied sciences education. Meanwhile, North Gyeongsang province opened a Global Gyeongbuk Hakdang Centre in Hanoi for the promotion of the study of Korean language and culture, with the aim of drawing Vietnamese learners.
ASIA UPDATES
- Indonesian Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto has urged the BRICS economic bloc to pay closer attention to the importance and benefits of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the education sector.
- BITS Law School Launches ‘Centre For Research On Innovation Law For Shared Prosperity’ with the launch of the Innovation Law & Policy Fellowship through the inaugural conference at the BITS Pilani Mumbai Campus, India will be a center for research into the legal aspects of technology and innovation.
- Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), a Malaysian government agency will be intensifying its cooperation with Cambridge University and is not just emphasising sending students abroad but to open up a track for them to join Ivy League universities.
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal asserted that the ‘Bill for the Amendment and Integration of the Law Related to School Education-2080’ would be approved by the Federal Parliament (House of Representatives) by Asar 15 (June 29).
- The National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD) and the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka will soon initiate a technology collaboration programme for promoting engineering research and manufacturing operations.
AFRICA UPDATES
- As part of a two-pronged drive for education reform and international cooperation, Morocco’s Ministry of National Education has made a historic agreement with Fondation Al Mada to roll out online technologies and teacher training across hundreds of rural schools. Morocco is officially accrediting UK university qualifications in the meantime—deepening UK-Morocco education links through collaborative research.
- Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities has approved direct admission for technical school graduates into university programmes in computer science and artificial intelligence—removing a long-standing barrier that required complex equivalency procedures.
- The government of South Africa has made a public announcement that school uniforms, stationery, and transport will be made available free of charge to all school children that will eliminate economic barriers to education and provide equal opportunities for education for all children, particularly from economically weaker sections.
- SCALE – System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence – is a multi-stakeholder effort created in collaboration with the Ghanaian ministry of education and Swiss-based Jacobs Foundation to inform long-term, system-level change within the education system in Ghana.
- Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in partnership with the National School of Government (NSG), South Africa, and the Kenya School of Government (KSG) will be hosting the June 2025 Economic Governance School at the Greenhill Campus of GIMPA in Accra to discuss and co-create strategic solutions for improving economic governance in Africa.
- The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA), has formally launched Rwanda’s involvement in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 Main Survey.
- The call for vocational education by Japan’s Prime Minister arises when the rate of youth unemployment in Eswatini has reached an alarming level and the government is seeking innovative solutions to equip young people with suitable skills required for the job market.