Today is the tenth edition of The Fifteen. Higher Education is in flux around the world, and we are taking a look at reforms in the EU, India and Indonesia, with stops in Australia and Hong Kong. We’re also looking at some contrasting approaches to managing AI, keeping track of the ongoing political confrontation between students and the government in Serbia, as well as—inevitably—keeping tabs on whatever it is Trump is doing to American Higher Ed.

1. As more colleges announce program cuts (now over 200 in total), the Ontario Public Service Employee’s Union is calling for the government to step in as colleges continue to announce program cuts. Advocates call for more provincial funding for Ontario colleges to stop program cuts. (CBC News)
2. Trump has shown that he’s willing to do just about anything, and his talk of shutting down the Education Department may be more than just bark. Trump Planning EO Directing Education Department to ‘Diminish Itself,’ Reports Say. (Inside Higher Ed)
3. American Higher Ed has already had a rough couple of weeks as the slew of executive orders continues: OMB FUNDING PAUSE, MORE EOS MARK HECTIC WEEK FOR HIGHER ED. (ACE)
4. Financially troubled Saint Augustine University in North Carolina refuses a loan from a local lender because it might mean naming a more serious set of Board members. Saint Augustine’s University Rejected Lower-Interest Loan Contingent on Board Chair’s Resignation (Indy Week)
5. India continues to send millions of students abroad each year as its higher education sector struggles to keep up with growing demand. The government is putting more money into battling this brain drain by investing in universities at home. UNION BUDGET 2025: Targeted reforms and investments expected to strengthen higher education system (EducationTIMES)
6. The European Commission has been working on developing EU-recognized degrees, but the project is hitting roadblocks. National differences hinder development of European degrees. (Science Business)
7. Another new year, another purge in North Korean universities. N. Korean university’s year-end purge: From foreign songs to USB drives. (Daily NK)
8. Despite not really moving all that quickly to implement the vaunted “universities accord,” Australia’s Labour government is on to a new public inquiry, this one on governance. It’s not receiving rave reviews from the sector. ‘Lawless’ Australian universities face new Senate inquiry. (Times Higher Education)
9. The political situation in Serbia continues to evolve; the president has invited talks with university leaders in response to widespread student protests. Student protests in Serbia, Vucic summons university leaders. (Nova Europa)
10. The American higher education system became rich in part through government land-grants. Now, in Indonesia, the government is trying to give universities the opportunity to make money via mining rights. Bill granting mining rights to universities splits opinion. (University World News)
11. The question of who is a “local” student continues to vex Hong Kong. In response to parents fuming about their children losing places at prestigious universities to students from the mainland, the territorial government is reviewing the regulations. Hong Kong to review ‘local’ student definition over loopholes. (Times Higher Education)
12. Buyer’s remorse in Argentina; the Milei government, one year later. Students are turning on Milei after helping him win power. (Buenos Aires Times)
13. International student numbers are recovering in the UK (slowly). Early data indicates international enrolment growth for UK higher education’s January 2025 intake. (ICEF)
14. The release of Chinese LLM Deepseek may mark a momentary lead over the US in the development of large Language Models, but at Chinese Universities, the emphasis is still on limiting the use of AI: Universities seek to restrict AI use by students. (People’s Daily Online)
15. In the United States, meanwhile, California State University is dropping a huge amount of money onto a new AI skills initiative for its half million students. CSU unveils massive venture to provide free AI tools and training across all 23 campuses. (Los Angeles Times)

HESA’s AI-CADEMY: Canada Summit for Post-Secondary Education is nearly sold-out! Join us in Calgary on March 6&7 to discuss the future of technology in the higher education sector.