08-12-2015
The world more educated than ever
OECD data shows more people are going to school and university than ever before. A third of adults in OECD countries held a tertiary-level qualification in 2014. South Korea has demonstrated a considerable increase in upward mobility as measured by the number of young people going to university whose parents had not. In the period between 2000 and 2010, China has increased the number of young people completing secondary school by 30%. According to the report, the higher your level of education, the more likely you are to feel healthy, to earn more, to take part in volunteering and to be politically engaged. Click here for full article.
“The world is more educated than it’s ever been – how?” The Conversation, 27 Nov 2015.
Australian university research ‘world-class’
The government’s $9.7 billion investment into university research is increasingly being spent on areas of excellence, with nearly 90 per cent of research being judged as world-class or better, according to a new report. The Excellence in Research for Australia report confirms Australia is a world leader in health and medical research, and has strengths across other fields including space sciences, engineering, soil science and historical studies. “It all goes to show we have a very good higher-education system” said Professor Byrne, chief executive of the Australian Research Council. Universities are trying to commercialise these efforts, with the number of patents filed as a result of research increasing by almost a third since 2010. Click here for full article.
‘Binge watching’ to blame for kids not learning
A recent report on media use reveals that teens are now spending more hours consuming media than sleeping, with the average American teenager spending about 9 hours per day on entertainment media alone. The problem arises that while they are engaging with a lot of information during those nine hours, they are creating barely any content of their own. This passive consumption of media is limiting children’s ability to learn and create on their own. Research shows that a more active approach to teaching and learning, which can include new media technology, can significantly impact both students’ enthusiasm in the classroom and how much they learn. Click here for full article.
Turnbull calls for ideas boom
Tax breaks for risk-taking businesses and a boost in science spending lie at the heart of a four-year, $1.1bn innovation package designed to drive an “ideas boom” in Australia. Launching his 16-page innovation agenda, Prime Minister Turnbull said Australia was falling behind in terms of maths and science teaching at schools, and in collaboration between researchers and industry. “The big gearshift here is a cultural one – if we can inspire people to be innovative…I promise you our opportunities are boundless”, said Mr. Turnbull. As part of the package, various concessions have been made to assist early-stage business funding, reforms to insolvency policy, greater CSIRO and Medical research funding, and investment into two major science projects. Click here for full article.
Expats in Singapore could spend $400k on education
A new report shows that expat workers in Singapore could pay over $400,000 in tuition over the course of their child’s education, making Singapore the most expensive places to attend an international school. The report, titled “International school tuition fees in Singapore and beyond” was commissioned by the Fry Group, a financial advisory firm, and was written by the Centre for Economics and Business Research based in London. Tuition fees at Singaporean international schools are expected to continue rising. Click here for full article.