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Year: 2021

EdUHK unveils world’s first postgraduate degree programme with Cambridge leadership qualifications

Posted on by eduhk

The Department of Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), is collaborating with Cambridge Assessment International Education to offer two professional development qualifications in educational leadership. The collaboration makes EdUHK the first university in the world to offer Cambridge leadership qualifications as part of a postgraduate degree programme.

The qualifications will be available to students of the Executive Master of Arts in International Educational Leadership and Change (IELC) programme. They will have the opportunity to attain the Cambridge International Certificate in Educational Leadership and the Cambridge International Diploma in Educational Leadership.

The leadership qualifications help school leaders enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding of effective leadership and leadership practice. The qualifications also help teachers and administrators develop an understanding of leadership in the context of Cambridge schools, a global community of more than 10,000 schools across 160 countries.

“We are delighted that our programme has been recognised by one of the world’s largest providers of international education qualifications,” said Dr Darren Bryant, Head of EPL. “We will continue to strengthen our network and international connections with universities and educational institutions from around the world.”

“Cambridge sets the global standard for international education,” said Professor Allan Walker, Adjunct Chair Professor at EPL. “The partnership shows that our programme and our university more than meets international standards in terms of curriculum design, rigour and quality teaching.”

The IELC has also collaborated with the International Baccalaureate (IB) since 2013/14 to offer two postgraduate leadership certificates. Dr Ewan Wright, Programme Leader of IELC, said, “The IELC is the first postgraduate programme in the world to offer both Cambridge leadership qualifications and IB Certificates. By preparing school leaders for roles in policy planning and school improvement, we aim to lead educational change not only in Hong Kong but also across East Asia and worldwide.”

TMU reaches out to the local communities

Posted on by Taipei Medical University

Taipei Medical University(TMU) links arts with community care to promote good practice in enhancing health of the elderly in the local communities.

In collaboration with Chiayi County Health Bureau in southern Taiwan, the TMU Center
for Arts and Humanities once again took its health empowerment program to southwestern
Taiwan with a series of activities including handicraft courses, puzzle games
and qigong courses for the elderly in Chiayi County.

Integrating learning of knowledge and visitation to galleries and museums, the community care helps improve the elderly’s quality of life through immersion in artifacts. In doing so, the idea of “localizing the artistic culture, aestheticizing the community medical care” is brought alive.

The significance of active ageing is to “activate” the vitality, the meaningful living, the wisdom of the elderly, and the solutions for an ageing society through the high-quality services for the elderly with singing, dining and
living together of fun.

 Apart from paying attention to one’s own physical health under the pandemic, companionship and mental health are of importance to keep one from panic or anxiety while the social distancing policy is being widely implemented.

 For that reason, Taipei Medical University Active Aging Center has been offering group courses such as gong sound healing and body structural realignment to communities since October 2020, bringing much-appreciated color into the daily life of senior citizens in the neighbourhood.

New online ethical marketing degree from the University of London

Posted on by Editorial Team

The University of London (UoL) is to launch a new online marketing degree in partnership with global online learning platform Coursera, but one which will equip its students well beyond more traditional ‘how-to’ courses.

Course director, Dr Stefano Harney, explained: “Naturally we cover the basics of marketing but we will go much further than that.

 “We’re concerned with core societal issues like environmental sustainability amid mass consumption; questions of gender in mar​keting and advertising; equity and inequity of growth, both between countries and within countries.

 “We want our students not only to be aware of these issues but to be the ones to confront them, to solve these problems and to have the consciousness to really rise up in their careers.”

 Dr Harney from Royal Holloway, the University of London, which provides academic direction to the course, added: “Massive over-consumption in some parts of the world means that to sustain current lifestyles, we would need almost three planets to provide enough natural resources.

 “But in a global economy in which customers can ask Alexa to buy almost anything and expect same day delivery, how can marketers meet consumer demand without contributing to a sustainability crisis?

 “Our students will be equipped, not only to ask these questions in future roles but by studying the history of marketing, as well as how global supply chains and operational management work and be able to start to formulate the answers.

 “The problems of over-consumption and sustainability are interconnected and can’t be addressed in a single point manner. Solutions are going to require students to have holistic knowledge, which we will provide on this course.

 “Why? Because the people who are cognisant of the largest issues in society and the relationship between marketing and these issues are the ones who will bring the biggest value to their companies.

 “Also, Coursera – it’s a very different, very exciting platform. Rather than starting from the idea that you’re trying to recreate a campus experience as much as you can, they know that many students want to be independent, set their own pace and learn in their own style and they have real expertise to underpin that very different approach we take to teaching so it’s a really exciting partnership.”

 Royal Holloway’s Head of the School of Business and Management, Professor Gloria Agyemang said: “This course will both stretch and stimulate its students as it addresses and equips them to deal with what are some of the biggest issues and challenges in marketing today.”

 The BSc Marketing is the second degree-level programme to be run by UoL in partnership with Coursera. A BSc Computer Science was launched in 2019 and more than 3,000 students around the world have enrolled on the programme so far.

 UoL’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Thomson, said: “Students in the Computer Science BSc with Coursera have had a life-changing experience and I am confident that the marketing degree will serve students equally well.”

Coursera Chief Content Officer, Betty Vandenbosch, said, “We’re honoured that the University of London is launching a second job-relevant degree on Coursera – enabling learners from around the world to access an affordable education from a top UK university.  Degrees continue to be one of the most valued credentials in the job market, and we’re excited to be launching the BSc Marketing which will equip students with the latest knowledge, techniques and practices in this high-demand field.”

 Head of Royal Holloway’s Marketing Department, Professor Alan Bradshaw, added: “At Royal Holloway we pride ourselves about being at marketing’s cutting edge. Our dual excellence in teaching and research allows us to lead international discussions about consumer experience, online culture, and branding. This new programme will allow us to do so in very exciting ways and we can’t wait to get started.”

 Applications open on June 28, 2021 and further details can be found here.

Thammasat Library’s pride

Posted on by Thammasat University

Assistant Professor Akekarin Yolrabil, Director at Thammasat University Library, has received the “2020 Recognition Award for Library Benefactor”, presented by Thai Library Association under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, for initiating, for establishing and developing the library or educational institution in Library and Information Science to meet the quality standards of the Thai Library Association and regularly monitoring and maintaining it for at least 5 years.

Assistant Professor Akekarin Yolrabil has served as Director of Thammasat University Library for the 1st term from July 1, 2016, until June 30, 2019, and continued the 2nd term from July 1, 2019, until June 30, 2022.

The most outstanding work is to bring the organizational operations to meet the international standards (ISO). The library has been certified for the quality management system according to ISO 9001: 2015 since November 17, 2017, and the renewal of the certification was completed on October 31, 2020, and the environmental management system has been certified according to ISO 14001: 2015 since December 22, 2019.

The scope of the “quality and environmental management system” covers all operational segments which consist of front-end and back-end user services. It is the first library of higher education institutions in Thailand having 2 ISO standards certified contemporarily.

The operation under the scope of work covering all roles and responsibilities of the library in compliance with ISO standards for quality and environmental management system has increased the effectiveness of the library services i.e., operational planning, monitoring, investigation and quality control have been done completely and accurately according to the requirements, as well as continuous improvement.

This results in library user satisfaction rate at 91.70 per cent in 2020, which is higher than the target, which is at 85 per cent.

The communication strategy has been adopted in the organization’s branding and strategic positioning in order to build loyalty and relationship between the organization and service users, consists of students, teachers and staff of Thammasat University including external people and staff of the TU Library.

There are currently 97,444 persons who have contacted us via “Thammasat University Library” Facebook Page (as of November 25, 2020). This is considered the most-followed Facebook page of the higher education institution’s libraries in Thailand.

Additionally,  the policies for TU Library service have been set for improvement and development that enables users to access services provided by TU Library anywhere, anytime and on any devices.

These services include registration from the self-registration system, borrowing-returning and resource request from TU Library and other libraries in the network through Book delivery and Interlibrary Loan service, library fine payment through an auto payment system, access to information technology from inside and outside Thammasat University network via OpenAthens system, application development to respond to the needs of users who prefer convenience and speed, such as study room booking system via QueQ, bookshelf guide with TAMMA system, library access with QR code via Virtual card, Institutional repository: IR named “Thammasat University Digital Collections” or TUDC system for storing electronic information resources used in promoting teaching and learning during the COVID-19 situation.

KNU contributes to the green remodelling project of the the public buildings

Posted on by Kyungpook National University ‏‏‎ ‎

“Green Remodeling Regional Base Platform, Gyeongsang Province” was held at Hyoseok Hall of Kyungpook National University on April 8 to create an ecosystem and strengthen capabilities for the green remodelling project of public buildings, one of the core projects of the Korean New Deal.

Won Hwa Hong, the president of Kyungpook National University, Eui Rak Hong, the Vice Mayor of Daegu City, Dae Seong Ha, the Vice Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, Jung Hee Um, the Construction Policy Officer of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Boo Soon Kang, the Vice Chairman of Korea Authority of Land& Infrastructure Safety, and Han Soo Seok, the Chairman of Korea Institute of Registered Architects attended the opening ceremony.

Green Remodeling Regional Base Platform is a project to support the improvement of the ageing of public and medical facilities, which are mainly used by the socially disadvantaged, and the improvement of indoor air quality and energy performance.

The Green Remodeling Regional Base Platform Project will be operated and supported by the Homeland Security Management Agency, and will successfully carry out the project, expand awareness and base through regional hub platforms (Gangwon, Seoul, Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang).

Starting with the Gangwon region, the launching ceremony of the regional base platform is being held in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong region, Gyeongsang region, and Jeolla region.

The opening ceremony was also held on the same day to sign a business agreement for organizations participating in the Gyeongsang regional project. It will share people, technology, and experience related to Green Remodeling Regional Base Platform in Gyeongsang region and cooperate with each other through signing agreements between local governments such as Korea Authority of Land & Infrastructure Safety, Kyungpook National University, Dong-A University, and other partner organizations

“For eco-friendly changes in public buildings, resources and knowledge held by various institutions should be used organically, and cooperative governance between them needs to be systematically established,” said Won Hwa Hong, the president of Kyungpook National University.

“We will spare no effort to foster human resources and support technology to successfully carry out the project, and based on this, we will do our best to develop regional capabilities and spread the base of the Green Remodeling Regional Base Platform Project .”

Asymmetric synthesis of Aziridine with a new catalyst can help develop novel medicines

Posted on by NITech

Aziridine structures are an important component of several medicines and pharmaceutical drugs, due to which reactions yielding desirable aziridine structures with high purity have received much interest. In a new study, scientists from Japan have reported a high yield of aziridines with high purity from oxazolones using a novel catalyst and look into the underlying mechanism, paving the way for future development of novel drugs and medicines.

“Oxazolones are well-known for their versatility in affording biologically active compounds,” explains Professor Shuichi Nakamura from Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), Japan, who studies asymmetric reactions.

“However, the enantioselective reactions of 2H-azirines with oxazolones have not been very fruitful, despite being touted as one of the most efficient methods to synthesize aziridines.”

In a new study recently published in Organic Letters, Prof. Nakamura along with his colleagues from NITech and Osaka University, Japan, explored this issue and, in a significant breakthrough, managed to obtain aziridine-oxazolone compounds in high yields (99%) as well as high enantioselectivity or purity (98%). In addition, the team used an original catalyst they developed to catalyze the reactions they studied.

The team started off by heating α-azideacrylates at 150°C in an organic solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF) to prepare 2H-azirines and then reacted them with oxazolones in presence of various organocatalysts to produce different aziridine-oxazolone compounds.

In particular, the team examined the effect of the catalyst cinchonine and various heteroarenecarbonyl and heteroarenesulfonyl groups in organocatalysts derived from cinchona alkaloids and found that reactions using catalysts with either a 2-pyridinesulfonyl group or an 8-quinolinesulfonyl group gave both a high yield (81-99%) as well high enantiopurity (93-98%).

In addition, scientists observed that the reaction between a 2H-azirine containing an ethyl ester group and an oxazolone with a 3, 5-dimethoxyphenyl group in presence of the catalyst with 8-quinolinesulfonyl group also gave high yields (98-99%) as well as enantiopurity (97-98%).

The team then moved on to exploring the reaction between 2H-azirine with ethyl ester group and a wider variety of oxazolones in presence of the catalyst with 8-quinolinesulfonyl group.

In all of the reactions, they observed high yields (77-99%) and enantiopurities (94-99%) except one for the case of an oxazolone bearing a benzyl group and the catalyst with a 2-pyridylsulfonyl group that only produced a moderate yield (61%) and purity (86%). Moreover, they were able to convert the obtained aziridines into various other enantiomers without any loss of purity.

Finally, the team proposed a catalytic mechanism and a transition state for the reaction of 2H-azirines with oxazolones in which the catalyst activates both the oxazolone and the 2H-azirine, which then react to give an “addition product” that, in turn, yields the aziridine with the regeneration of the catalyst.

While the detailed mechanism is yet to be clarified, scientists are excited by their findings and look forward to the method’s application in medicine and pharmacology.

“It has the potential to provide people with new medicines and create new drugs as well as drug candidates that are currently difficult to synthesize. Moreover, the catalyst used in this study can be used for many other stereoselective synthetic reactions,” observes an
optimistic Prof. Nakamura. 

French government honours ITS Lecturer with prestigious award

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

French Government recently honoured one of the ITS Lecturers, Professor Dr Ir. Ria Asih Aryani M.Eng., with the Chevalier dans L’Ordre des Palmes Académiques Award
for her contribution in helping at least 20 Indonesian students to pursue their Master and Doctoral degree in France. Professor Ria received this award on March 24, 2021, at the French Consulate Office in Surabaya, Indonesia.

L’Ordre des Palmes Academiques is a world prestigious award conferred by the French Government to academics from all over the world who have made a major contribution to cooperation between France and a related country in the fields of education and culture. It would take at least 10 years of service or extraordinary achievements for someone to be honoured with this award.

Professor Ria who has also won Prix ​​Mahar Schützenberger often invites French professors to conduct guest lectures in Indonesia and has been actively involved in research collaboration with French researchers since 1994.

With this award, she will continue to help more Indonesian students to study in France and invite more French professors to conduct guest lectures in Indonesia.

Chulalongkorn University develop an embalming fluid to preserve animal cadavers

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science (CUVET) has found formulas to preserve animal cadavers to be studied by students in place of carcinogenic formalin and are able to keep the cadavers soft for years.

The CUVET faculty members have spent over 4 years developing this embalming fluid to preserve the animal cadavers, aka “the headmasters”, for students to study.  This is to replace the foul-smelling and carcinogenic formalin, which can have seriously noxious health effects on par with cigarettes and asbestos, and has also been shown to be toxic to the environment.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Siripong Kiatkittikul, Head of the Department of Surgery and Director of the Animal Hospital revealed that this technology was developed in collaboration with the Departments of Physiology, Surgery, and Anatomy of CUVET.

 

“We have expanded on the technology that Chula Faculty of Medicine has used to preserve human cadavers and adapted it to be used with animal cadavers. At present, we have successfully created two formulas: the “formalin–free headmaster“ formula, which is used in anatomy classes that require relatively hard and dry bodies to study musculoskeletal structures.  The “soft headmaster“ formula is used on cadavers for students to practice surgery.  These cadavers need to be soft with pliable organs, joints and muscles just like those of real animals. “

 

“First, we experimented with chunks of meat, then the animal organs. Currently, the formulas are applied to the “headmasters” like dogs and cats, rabbits, pigs, sheep.  The exceptions are for horses and cows that we only embalm just parts of the animals.”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sirakarnt added that the formulas can preserve the cadavers for up to 2-3 years in the freezer, and 3-4 months after they are removed from the freezer to be studied.  The formulas are also being developed to kill fungi and bacteria in the cadavers soon.

Development of urban high-tech industrial complex at Kyungpook National University

Posted on by Kyungpook National University ‏‏‎ ‎

As Kyungpook National University was finally selected in the 2021 government contest for the campus innovation park construction project, Daegu City, South Korea will start a full-fledged project such as preparing to launch an industrial complex plan for urban high-tech industrial complex on campus.

“Campus Innovation Park Creation Project” is a project to create an urban high-tech industrial complex on the spare site of the university and build various facilities such as University-Industry Innovation Hub facilities to combine corporate occupancy, start-up support, housing, and cultural facilities.

The site of the “Kyungpook National University Campus Innovation Park Creation Project” is an area including the 2nd Stadium near the North Gate of the University, and plans to invest 120.4 billion won in total project costs in two stages from 2021 to 2030.

The first phase of the project to build the University-Industry Innovation Hub (total area of 22,000㎡), which will be launched in 2021, plans to invest 50.4 billion won (national budget 190.5 billion won, city budget 7.6 billion won, LH 237.5 billion won) to form a complex space.

In particular, Daegu Citizens’ University and Culture and Arts Regional Cooperation Space are planned within the University-Industry Innovation Hub to help lifelong education settle into a culture and to realize “Daegu, a talent city that grows people” such as humanities projects, communication, exchange, and community projects.

Starting with the administrative process to establish an industrial complex plan this month, the plan will be completed in the first half of next year and designated as an urban high-tech industrial complex (approval by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport).

Daegu City plans to closely cooperate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in establishing an industrial complex plan and establishing a University-Industry Innovation so that the “Kyungpook National University Campus Innovation Park Creation Project” can be successfully realized.

In addition, Kyungpook National University said it will do its best to grow into a successful model of regional innovation by making it the first place for innovation for companies and talent, aiming to achieve 3,000 new jobs, 500 auxiliary jobs, and a 65% employment rate for young people in their 20s and 30s over the next five years.

Chitkara University becomes India’s first university to get “PLATINUM” rating by QS I-GUAGE

Posted on by Dr K K Mishra

Chitkara University becomes the first university in India to have been awarded the  ‘Platinum’ rating by QS I-GAUGE, a comprehensive and independent rating system for India’s universities and colleges.

Chitkara University was rated ‘Platinum’ in four key indicators: ‘ Employability,’ ‘Facilities,’ ‘Entrepreneurship,’ and ‘Governance & Structure.’ In the other five indicators, namely, ‘Research,’ ‘Teaching & Learning,’ ‘Faculty Quality,’ ‘Diversity and Accessibility,’ and ‘Social Responsibility, the university was rated ‘Diamond’.

Chitkara University works diligently on all aspects of quality assurance for continuous improvement and has always strived to promote ‘holistic and world-class teaching,learning, and research experience. Seven National/International Funding Agencies have recently granted the university 02 Crore of Funding for undertaking cutting-edge research.

The university also has on record Intellectual Property of 1700 plus Scopus Indexed Research Publications and 700 patents (filed), which stands as a testimony to the university’s focus on knowledge creation and dissemination.

The Award Certificate was presented during the Facilitation Ceremony at The Taj, Bangalore, by Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, QS Regional Director – Middle East, Africa & South Asia & CEO QS I-GAUGE. During the ceremony, he shared and cited that “Indian Universities are doing well and increasingly focussing on quality education despite all odds. We make special mention of Chitkara University for their clear and diligent data and document presentation”.

He further added, “I am pretty impressed with Chitkara University’s growth and its remarkable work for Research Publications, Patents, Employability & Entrepreneurship. My best wishes to the university for upcoming rankings of QS and hope the university will perform well in all other international/national rankings.”

Citing the rigorous process preceding the rating, Dr Archana Mantri, Vice-Chancellor, said, “QS I-GAUGE follows a rigorous and comprehensive institutional rating procedure, and the application process can become cumbersome and time-consuming for the unprepared applicants, but owing to Chitkara University’s process-centric approach to teaching, research and learning, we were ready with all the documentation even before we started the application process.  I am happy that the wonderful teamwork and quality education at Chitkara University finally has the recognition of QS I -GAUGE.”

Dr. K.K Mishra, Associate Director, IQAC, Chitkara University, who also led the rigorous process at the university, shared that, “Keeping in consideration the fact that QS I-GAUGE employs a very rigorous rating methodology, we were sure of our quality benchmarks and data insights from the very beginning of the rating process.”

Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor Chitkara University, congratulated the university fraternity on becoming the first university to receive the coveted ‘Platinum’ rating from QS I-GAUGE, shared that “At the heart of our education system is quality. We never compromise on the same. The Governing Board has entrusted us with the surmountable task of surpassing our benchmarks and acquiring ‘platinum’ rating by none other than QS I-GAUGE is certainly a feather in our cap.”

‘QS I-GAUGE’ is a comprehensive and independent rating system for India’s universities and colleges. Based on the globally recognized QS STARS University Rating System developed by QS, QS I·GAUGE has been adapted to capture the reality of the dynamic Indian education sector without compromising the strict quality standards synonymous with the QS brand.

Rated on seven primary indicators and five secondary indicators, which range from Teaching and Learning, Employability and Social Responsibility to Research and Innovation, the QS I∙GAUGE rating provides a unique and comprehensive 360-degree perspective of India’s Higher Education institutions for learning. Post assessment, the institutes are awarded an overall rating ranging from Bronze to Platinum+.