Welcome back to another edition of The Fifteen, with a new list of ongoing and developing stories from around the world of higher education. The ongoing internationalization controversy, increasingly commercial education offerings and a tightening funding environment are not unique to Canada, and by tracking global trends in higher ed we’re hoping to deliver a global perspective on the sector. This edition picks up the trail in Canada as usual, looks at the response to continuing demographic shifts in China and Asia, stops in the UK to investigate the funding and research landscape and finishes with a story about how some professors are integrating AI into their assignments. Enjoy!

1. It turns out that Canada isn’t the only country whose government’s implementation of international student caps leaves something to be desired. Perhaps we should exchange notes with Australian policymakers. University World News, Top universities seek clarity on international student caps.
2. Graduate student enrollment is up in China, a sign of high youth unemployment. China hasn’t released official data on 16- to 24-year-old unemployment since June 2023, when the number reached an all-time high of 21.3%. And it looks like China is take this issue more seriously, launching a package of job creation measures, the first since 2012. YiCai Global, China’s Graduate Student Enrollment Surged 62% in Past Six Years. Sixth Tone, China Launches Policy Blitz to Tackle Unemployment.
3. Yet another case of CV inflation in academia; this time, it’s in Spain and involves a university President: El País, El fraude de un rector.
4. In India, the surging demand for post-secondary is outpacing the country’s ability to create new supply. Students at this college have begun protesting as lecturers have yet to be appointed for classes that have been in session for weeks. The Economic Times, Students protest over faculty shortage in government colleges.
5. A short survey article describes the role of student unions in politics and university governance around the globe. It compares shifts in student representation with general changes to democratic institutions, especially in illiberal countries. International Higher Education, Student Politics and Representation in Higher Education: A Global Perspective.
6. UK universities bargain faculty pay collectively. The problem is that as financial pressures weigh unevenly on institutions, not all institutions can afford the same package. Wealthier institutions are starting to push for independent pay deals, threatening to fracture the long-standing system. Times Higher Education, Can collective pay bargaining survive in the UK?
7. Still in the UK: we’re still five years out from another Research Excellence Framework Exercise, but it’s not too early to start reading articles arguing that the REF is slow and bureaucratic, and ultimately doesn’t really improve the quality of research. UK Day One, Replacing the Research Excellence Framework.
8. Some talk about ideological conformity in higher education, but arguably where conformity has greatest costs is in academic fields’ inability or unwillingness to see evidence that challenges scientific paradigms. How progress in Alzheimer’s research may have been hampered by funding processes which deterred alternative hypotheses and approaches: Stat News, The maddening saga of how an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure for decades.
9. In Africa, millions in scholarship funding are going unclaimed, in large part due to an obscure and difficult application process. This is another story of inefficient bureaucracy marring an otherwise good program. University World News, Millions of euros in Erasmus+ funds meant for Africa not used.
10. As overall enrollment in Japan declines, the Higher Education institutions are forced to offer more commercial skills-based programs. Yet vocationalization is not an isolated trend. China and India are following a similar trajectory, which we’ll be discussing in the podcast some time soon. International Higher Education, Vocationalization of Higher Education in Japan.
11. Yet another exam scandal in India… The Economic Times, 144 aspirants had paid to get leaked NEET-UG 24 questions paper: CBI.
12. The Times Higher Education 2025 Rankings were released last week. Oxford retains the number one spot on a list that is largely unchanged since last year (and the year before, and the year before…). Times Higher Education, World University Rankings 2025: results announced
13. A good, short, but statistically heavy piece from Pew Research on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Pew Research Center, A look at historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S.
14. Argentine President Javier Milei has been in a tussle with Congress over funding for higher education. Congress wants more of it, Milei doesn’t. The latter’s veto seems to have settled the matter – for now. Reuters, Argentine lawmakers fail to overturn a Milei veto of university funding  
15. Instead of continuing to fight a losing battle trying to get students not to use AI, two professors at Rollin’s College in Florida integrated Copilot and ChatGPT directly into their assignments. Chronicle, The Future is Hybrid.

Integration is one of the most frequent and effective approaches tracked in the ongoing AI Policy Observatory. We will continue fostering the dialogue as the technology evolves and students and professors find creative new ways to use it. Early bird registration for the AI-CADEMY is almost done, but there are still a few spots left as this is coming out.