US, Bangladesh, France: University News

The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 24 July 2013.

US: Georgia Tech announces first online Masters in Computer Science

Georgia Institute of Technology has announced the first ever online Masters in Computer Science, Slate reports. The degree, which costs US$6,600, will be delivered through a series of massive open online courses (MOOCs), with the university hoping to attract enrollments from students across the world. Despite ongoing debate as to whether online programs can compete with a campus-based ones, the head of Georgia Tech’s school of computing, Zvi Galil says, ‘’If Georgia Tech doesn’t do this someone else might come along and do it first - grabbing the notoriety, the students, and the revenue.”

Read the full story >

Bangladesh: Universities granted more funds from World Bank

Following the success of several projects to upgrade facilities in universities across Bangladesh, the government has requested additional funding from the World Bank, Dhaka Tribune reports. Having already backed the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) in Bangladesh, the World Bank has helped to develop campus facilities and resources across the country. Additional funding from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) is estimated to be worth US$110 million, bringing the total IDA contribution to US$191 million.

Read the full story >

France: Universities criticized over student quotas and registration fees

A number of French universities are reported to have illegally set quotas on the number of students accepted, while others are accused of charging inflated registration fees, EducationNews.com reports. The claims come in a report from the National Union of French Students (UNEF), which found 27 universities were setting limits on the number of accepted students, breaking the requirement that places are available to all students who have passed the school-leaving baccalauréat exam. UNEF says this has been largely caused by funding issues, with universities cutting student numbers in order to avoid employing more teaching staff.

Read the full story >

US: High achieving students choose universities further from home

A report on trends in US students’ ACT scores has concluded that higher achievers typically travel further from home to attend college, EducationNews.org reports. The report, published by ACT, also highlighted that students with more educated parents were more likely to choose universities further away. Steve Kappler, head of postsecondary strategy for ACT, said the report underscored the importance of ensuring students are aware of all the choices available to them. “We must help students understand that the colleges that best fit their needs and interests may be ones they have never even heard of.”

Read the full story >