Welcome back to The Fifteen, your source for news from around the world of higher education. In this edition, we’re taking a look at increases in tuition in Iran and Korea, as well as the development of an AI-focused university in Nigeria. We’re also following as another student movement takes on their government in Serbia. You may remember in the first edition of the Fifteen, we covered a similar story from Bangladesh, but interestingly, this isn’t the first time Serbian students have taken on their government. As always, enjoy your Friday and these articles.

1. In what seems like a very thinly disguised attack on opposition youth groups, Georgia’s Kremlin-backed President announces he will personally lead a commission on higher education. Kobakhidze Announces State Commission to Reform Universities. (Civil Georgia)

2. The Government of the Philippines is incentivizing the construction of foreign higher education campuses. PH to incentivize building foreign higher education campuses. (Philippine News Agency)

3. In a follow-up on a piece from last time, here’s an interesting story about language change in South Africa, looking at the case of the (formerly) Afrikaans-speaking Stellenbosch U. What one university’s 30-year transformation reveals about Afrikaans and language planning in South Africa. (The Conversation)

4. In November, we showcased a story examining how universities became a place for Ukrainians to avoid conscription. Ukraine is now introducing compulsory military training in its universities as the war continues to shape life in the country. Ukraine to introduce basic military training in universities. (Espreso)

5. What does the future hold for recently merged super-universities in France? Will France’s latest amalgamated university model find a soul? (Times Higher Education)

6. After years of tuition freezes, thinly stretched Korean universities are finally, gingerly, raising tuition fees. Universities push to raise tuition amid financial difficulties. (The Korea Times)

7. Iran’s largest and richest university has massively increased its tuition fees for its medical programs, sparking student protests. 300% increase in tuition fees at Azad University has left students indebted. (Iran Focus)

8. Serbia’s students have been on strike for weeks, protesting government corruption. Student strikes in Serbia challenge Vučić’s rule and demand accountability. (EuroNews) Some think the protests might be big enough to topple the government. Is Serbia on the brink of a general strike? (DW News)

9. In Sindh province, Pakistan, faculty are on strike to protest a change in the rules governing the naming of Vice-Chancellors, permitting senior civil servants to be put in charge of universities. Protests Surge as Sindh Universities Shut Over Bureaucrats as VCs. (Photo News)

10. In Mexico, life imitates Breaking Bad as cartels recruit campus chemistry grads to manufacture Fentanyl. Mexican Cartels Lure Chemistry Students to Make Fentanyl. (New York Times)

11. Kenya’s attempt to introduce a new funding model and student aid system for universities, already in trouble, has now been complicated by an adverse Supreme Court ruling. Chaos has ensued. Hundreds of students locked out of varsities as finance woes persist. (Business Daily)

12. A chemistry professor who was arrested in 2019 for hiding his alleged ties to the Chinese government is now suing his former university for firing him. US scientist cleared of hiding ties to China sues university that fired him. (Nature)

13. Taiwan’s demography is leading to cases of serious under enrolment at a number of universities. Nine are now at under 60% capacity, some closures are expected. 9 Taiwan universities have enrollment rates below 60%. (Taiwan News)

14. After the rapid collapse of the Assad regime in December, Syria’s universities are open again. Universities reopen in Syria following regime’s fall. (AA Middle East)

15. Following the lead of Qatar, Nigeria seems poised to create its own AI-focused University. Nigeria to open first AI university in Epe, Lagos. (Techpoint Africa)

Whether it’s through a renewed focus on research, changes to pedagogy or educational outcomes, AI will have a lasting impact on postsecondary education around the world. HESA’s AI-CADEMY: Canada Summit for Post-Secondary Education is March 6-7 in Calgary, Alberta. We are looking forward to hosting this national event, where we will bring together a diverse audience of university and college administrators and leaders, policy-makers, staff and professionals, faculty and instructional designers, industry leaders, and more to explore and engage with key themes such as the impacts of AI on the future of learning and of work; the interaction between AI and teaching and learning, research, and operations; and the development of institutional AI frameworks.