30 Jun 2025

June 2025 news digest

Get all the latest IHE sector news and updates in one place. Highlights this month include new global data from UNESCO that sheds light on the need for recognition of qualifications, increased EU funding for African science, and UK investment in a new scheme to attract global talent. There are also interesting updates from Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan on various aspects of international student mobility, including record numbers, shifting source countries, and the economic effects of extending post-study work rights durations. There is much to learn and keep up with in our fast-moving world of international higher education.

Record number of higher education students highlights global need for recognition of qualifications (UNESCO)

The number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide reached a record 264 million, a surge of 25 million since 2020 and more than double the total in 2000, according to new UNESCO data.

Government launches plan to attract more African students (University World News)

The Danish ministries of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education and Science are launching a new programme worth DKK 430 million (US$66 million) aimed at promoting partnerships between Danish and African universities. This initiative will enable more postgraduate African students to receive funding to study in Denmark, according to an announcement made on 13 June.

UK finally unveils £54 million global talent scheme (Times Higher Education)

A much-anticipated package for recruiting foreign researchers follows similar moves by France and the European Union to attract US scientists.

EU funding boost at critical moment for African science (University World News)

As governments worldwide scale back investment in research and higher education, the European Union (EU) has stepped up its support for Africa, launching a €500.5 million (US$572 million) funding package aimed at strengthening science, technology, and innovation (STI) partnerships across the continent.

Japan turns to India to meet STEM, internationalisation aims (University World News)

Japan is stepping up efforts to increase the number of science, technology, engineering and medical (STEM) students it receives from India as part of its internationalisation plans to counter Japan’s demographic crunch.

Horizon Europe forever: EU research programme brand set to roll over in 2028 (Science Business)

The next Framework Programme for research and innovation, informally known as FP10, looks set to keep the name Horizon Europe, according to comments by research commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, who said during a question and answer session on 12 June that the Horizon Europe name would continue for the 2028-34 budget period.

Extending post-study work rights attracts more international students (Medianet)

New research from the e61 Institute shows that extending post-study work rights (PSWRs) boosts international student enrolments and encourages graduates to stay in Australia temporarily, but has little impact on their job prospects or chances of permanent residency.

New Zealand universities see record income from overseas students (Times Higher Education)

Foreign student numbers rebound despite fee increases as other anglophone countries impose immigration restrictions.

 


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