27 Mar 2025

March 2025 news digest

We bring you all the latest IHE sector news and updates in one place, saving you time and keeping you informed. This month, we see evidence of impressive returns on investment in international students in Germany, alongside the troubling effects of cuts to international cooperation funding in the Netherlands. A recent overall drop in Indian students going abroad coincides with rising numbers in several European countries. Meanwhile, positive news for post-graduate work permissions in Canada, a call for enhanced cooperation across the Mediterranean, and emerging European options for U.S. researchers seeking new funding sources are also in the spotlight.

Dive into these stories and more below!

Germany recovers an 8x return on investment in international students (ICEF Monitor)

With Germany having one of the highest retention rates for foreign graduates, new analysis finds that the net return of international graduates who remain in the country significantly exceeds the public investment in their education.

Call for more HE cooperation in crisis-hit Mediterranean (University World News)

The Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED) is urging the European Commission to include education and research in the New Pact for the Mediterranean and calling on universities to support at-risk students and researchers, a key message from its Brussels event in February.

15% drop in Indian students abroad but Russia, France, Germany see growth (The Pie)

Despite a dip in the overall number of Indian students studying abroad in 2024, destinations outside of the 'Big Four' are witnessing an uptick.

Dutch aid cuts blow for higher education in Global South (University World News)

The Netherland's cuts to its international aid budget have dealt a further blow to higher education, research and students from Africa and other regions seeking to study there.

PGWP eligibility expanded for degree students (The Pie)

Canada's college sector has welcomed a recent IRCC policy change, which exempts graduates of college degree programmes from the field of study requirements to be eligible for a PGWP.

As Trump’s policies worry scientists, France and others put out a welcome mat (NY Times)

European universities have begun recruiting researchers who lost their jobs due to the administration’s cost-cutting or are concerned about threats to academic freedom.

 


 

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