Global Higher Education Trends

Political crises, including the Israel-Hamas conflict and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have placed great stress on universities worldwide. How should they respond?

The Gross Enrollment Ratio, often misunderstood as a valid undergraduate enrollment measure, includes students of all ages and degree levels with inconsistent international student counts, raising concerns about its policy implications and the need for better indicators.

The European Parliament's Academic Freedom Forum, launched in 2022 amid concerns about academic freedom in the EU, reveals erosion across member states. The Forum aims to better understand threats and enhance the promotion and protection of academic freedom in Europe.

The three main global higher education rankings—THE, QS, and ARWU—have become a profitable enterprise, offering consulting, data analysis, and benchmarking services. This raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the ethics of the ranking system.