29 Apr 2025

April 2025 news digest

We bring you all the latest IHE sector news and updates in one place, saving you time and keeping you informed. Developments this month include calls for European universities to attend to financial sustainability, the challenges of retaining foreign PhDs in the Nordic region, and the expansion of Horizon Europe to include Egypt. Meanwhile, hundreds of international students have recently faced visa revocations in the US, and European actors are considering the possibilities of actively attracting academic talent displaced from the US. There’s also new insight into how young Europeans view the EU’s biggest challenges and key priorities. Dive into these stories and more below!

Universities urged to act to build financial resilience (University World News)

A new European University Association (EUA) report finds that European universities must boost financial resilience by finding new ways of generating income, tackling inefficiencies and being more strategic in prioritising their activities.

EU challenges and priorities: young Europeans' views (European Union)

According to the EU Challenges and Priorities: Young Europeans' Views report, 61% of young Europeans are optimistic about the EU's future, and 60% believe it has a positive impact on society—among other key insights.

Region grapples with how to retain foreign PhD graduates (University World News)

With fewer local students pursuing doctoral studies and a growing need for high-level skills, governments in Norway and other Nordic countries are exploring ways to retain international PhD graduates.

EU should attract more US scientists, MEPs say (Science Business)

Many members of the European Parliament have urged the Commission to increase efforts and funding to attract US scientists affected by budget cuts and political interference, viewing the current geopolitical climate as an opportunity for the EU to position itself as an international beacon for academic freedom.

Egypt joins Horizon Europe despite academic freedom concerns (Science Business)

The European Union has struck a deal with Egypt allowing it to associate with Horizon Europe, despite concerns from Members of the European Parliament and former diplomats about restrictions on research in the country.

International students' visas revoked in the US, daily data shows (Insider Higher Ed)

As of April 24, over 280 colleges and universities have identified 1,800-plus international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed by the State Department. On April 25, the Trump administration shared it would restore all terminated SEVIS statuses.

U.S. Restores Legal Status for Many International Students, but Warns of Removals to Come (The PIE)

While the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has survived an announced reorganisation of the US State Department, concerns about staffing and funding remain as the sector awaits the incoming presidential budget.

ERA Dashboard and Scoreboard 2025: substantial progress but a need for more investment in R&I (News Tank Academic)

The EU and the member states have made substantial progress from 2010 to 2022 in key research and innovation areas across the EU, according to the European Research Area (ERA) Scoreboard and Dashboard 2024.

U.S. Restores Legal Status for Many International Students, but Warns of Removals to Come (NYT)

Immigration officials signaled that the Trump administration would continue to pursue efforts to terminate the legal status of the students, despite a wave of legal challenges.

 


 

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