100 Free Courses for Unemployed to Improve and Update Skills

Might also be useful for those who feel they aren't getting their money's worth from their current courses as well.



http://onlineschool.net/2009/10/05/100-free-cutting-edge-college-courses-for-the-unemployed/

Universities in Japan worry about epidemics derailing entrance exams

Entrance exams and admissions applications are a big source of revenues, at least in terms of covering the costs of recruitment. So it's a big deal if an epidemic might keep applicants away from testing centers nationwide during January-March next year. The H1N1 virus is making university administrators nervous about having to run make-up tests just to make sure they get their quotas of first year students.

See the Daily Yomiuri article online for more information:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090916TDY03003.htm

excerpt:

>> Universities mull antiflu measures / Fears of mass infection during examination season prompt makeup exam proposal

The Yomiuri Shimbun

University officials are giving careful thought to measures aimed at preventing transmission of the new strain of influenza at venues used for entrance exams early next year.

With an eye on a possible pandemic, some universities are considering the unusual step of introducing makeup exams for examinees infected with the new flu, even though such tests are only used by the National Center for University Entrance Exams.

Each year, more than 3 million people sit university entrance exams in the nation.

The universities are concerned that infected examinees might develop a fever during exams, and that a large number of examinees might miss tests due to symptoms caused by the new flu. << end of excerpt

NYT reports on the competition to get international students in Asia

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/world/asia/19iht-study.html

excerpt (see links above for entire article online):

>> More Asian Universities Cast a Net for Foreign Students

By LIZ GOOCH
Published: September 18, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR
Attending a university overseas has long been an aspiration for many Chinese.

“My father said ‘Why do you want to stay in China? Open your mind, look at the world,”’ said Bao Qianqian, 25.

The predictable choice might have been Australia or Britain, where her two sisters and thousands of her countrymen have studied. But Ms. Bao decided to embark on a journey that would keep her closer to her home in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo, improve her English while still giving her the chance to converse with Chinese speakers, and enjoy substantially lower costs.

She chose Malaysia, where she is currently a third-year business student at HELP University College, a private institution in Kuala Lumpur. <<

end of excerpt

Conference focuses on Japan-Vietnam HE tie-ups and cooperation

The vast majority of international students in higher education in Japan come from China, but other nationalities from Asia are also a major presence, including students from Vietnam. Higher education in Japan has become a major player globally, but it mainly serves students from elsewhere in Asia. This will put Japan's HE sector in fierce competition with, for example, Malaysia, which has more abundant space for 'green-site' campuses as well as more widespread social use of English. Students from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are coming to Japan, but mostly to learn Japanese language and culture, not really to pursue an education. This is sort of a mirror image of what anglophone countries still typically provide for Japanese students (English language training mostly). Students from developing countries in Asia, however, often come to Japan to get training and degrees taken in Japanese.

See article below:

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Education/2009/9/74339/

Vietnam, Japan strengthen cooperation in university education

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan has appreciated Japan’s assistance to Vietnam to develop education.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan opens the first conference of Vietnamese and Japanese university heads in Hanoi on September 17 (Photo: Nhan Dan)

He was speaking at the first conference of Vietnamese and Japanese university heads held by his ministry in Hanoi on September 17 under the theme “boosting university cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.”

The two-day conference is being attended by 53 university directors from Japan.

Japan has helped Vietnam build 256 elementary schools in 17 flood-prone provinces and four mountainous southern provinces and grants scholarships to Vietnamese students every year.

The conference provides an opportunity for the two countries’ universities to review cooperation in education and scientific research as well as to compare notes, he said.

In recent years, Japan has been one of biggest donors of official development assistance to the Vietnamese education system.

It has, for instance, funded a US$65 million project to enhance training in information and communication technology and a $23 mil project to upgrade infrastructure at Can Tho University.

More than 100 Vietnamese universities have tied up with Japanese universities, including Hue University, the Hanoi University of Technology, the Hanoi University of Education, and the HCMC University of Education.

Waseda University opens bio-science research institute in Singapore

This story is a bit unusual in that (1) it's a private university (an elite one for sure) opening a scientific research institute (usually the former national universities get the funding for such activities) AND (2) the centre will be in Singapore and not in Japan.


Online article one:

http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=12596.php

excerpt:

>> Waseda University's Biosciences Reserach Institute in Singapore covers nanobiotechnology
(Nanowerk News) Waseda University today opened the Waseda Bioscience Research Institute in Singapore (WABIOS) in Biopolis. WABIOS will focus its research in the areas of bioimaging, bioengineering, biophysics and nano-biotechnology. It will also further develop the neuroscience-focused research findings derived from the Waseda-Olympus Bioscience Research Institute ? a joint initiative between Waseda University and Olympus Corporation in Biopolis from 2004 ? 2009. WABIOS has committed S$2 million for its research activities here and will start with a few researchers from both Japan and Singapore. The establishment of WABIOS is particularly significant in that it marks the first time that Waseda University is setting up research operations overseas independently. <<

Online article two:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/14/content_12049112.htm

excerpt:

>> Japan's Waseda University opens bioscience institute in Singapore
www.chinaview.cn 2009-09-14 12:19:02

SINGAPORE, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Waseda University opened the Waseda Bioscience Research Institute in Singapore (WAIBOS) on Monday.

The WABIOS marks the first time that Waseda University is setting up research operations overseas independently.

WABIOS will focus its research in the areas of bio-imaging, bioengineering, biophysics and nano-biotechnology. It will also further develop the neuroscience, focused research findings derived from the Waseda-Olympus Bioscience Research Institute, a joint initiative between Waseda University and Olympus Corporation from 2004 to 2009, according to a statement by Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

WABIOS has committed 2 million Singapore dollars (1.4 million U.S. dollars) for its research activities here and will start with a few researchers from both Japan and Singapore.

President of Waseda University Katsuhiko Shirai and Chairman of A*STAR Lim Chuan Poh also signed on Monday a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) here at the opening of WABIOS.

The agreement aims to facilitate research collaborations between scientists from the two organizations through joint symposia and workshops as well as enable graduate students from Waseda University to spend up to 2 years at A*STAR research institutes during the course of their PhD studies under A*STAR's Research Attachment Program. <<

University-run museums are a hidden treasure in Japan

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090919f4.html

excerpt:
>> Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009

University museums drawing crowds with research dazzle
Kyodo News

University-run museums are gaining attention not only for their free admission but also for in-depth exhibitions that reflect their latest achievements in research.

A guidebook published this month on some 100 university-run museums in the Tokyo area may prompt more people to seek intellectual stimulation at the exhibitions.

Tokyo Daigaku Hakubutsukan Guide (Tokyo University Museum Guide), written by freelance journalist Satoru Otsubo, 41, delves into various campus exhibition corners recently opened to the public, including exhibitions on art and architecture and showings of industrial machines that are set in motion before people's eyes. <<