The World's Global Classroom
Korean pop culture inspires a Korean-language learning boom at US universities
The demand for language courses on US college campuses typically has reflected global shifts. Today, universities report that Korean-language classes fill up as soon as they add them and there are long wait-lists. And it’s all attributed to a surge of interest in Korean pop culture.
Open secret: Some international students in the US are going hungry
Community colleges are an attractive option for international students, in part, because they’re a fraction of the cost of four-year universities. But higher nonresident tuition fees, ineligibility for state or federal aid and limited options for work can still generate sticker shock for people when they arrive in the US.
After Florida passes laws to limit Chinese influence in higher ed, this university is cutting its ties with China
Florida International University has cut ties with multiple Chinese academic partners and ended successful dual programs it’s operated in China for years. Officially, the move is to comply with a state law that limits public agencies having a relationship with seven “countries of concern.” University trustees remain tight-lipped about the decision, but WLRN’s Danny Rivero reports that these university programs appear to be victims of anti-Chinese rhetoric in Florida.
Glitches prevent students with undocumented immigrant parents from applying for college
The Department of Education released the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid last December. The new version was supposed to make applying for financial help easier. Instead, a glitch has prevented students whose parents don’t have social security numbers from completing the application. WBEZ reporter Lisa Kurian Philip spoke to three high school seniors in the Chicago area who are worried that unless there is a fix soon, they won’t be able to afford to go to college.
Texas A&M is shutting down its Qatar campus amid charges of a disinformation campaign
In the two decades since Texas A&M opened a campus in Doha, there have been plenty of challenges, including ongoing conflicts in the region. The school also faced criticisms because it operated under the autocratic Qatari government and censorship is common. But the partnership brought in millions of dollars and the campus flourished. So, Qataris were stunned when the Texas A&M Board of Regents voted to close the school in part because of “instability” in the region.