Global private tertiary education update

Private tertiary education has been in the news around the world over the past month. We highlight some stories.

Sweden considers tertiary education tuition fees

Leading Swedish academics have called for tuition fees, saying universities are under increasing pressure to increase quality and teach more students with no government funding increase.

A Times Higher Education Supplement article says the Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences has called for institutions to be given the freedom to set fees as they wish. Fees are currently prohibited under Swedish law.

Sweden is considering charging tertiary education tuition fees to non-European Union students studying in the country, in a move which might see it eventually introduced for all students.

The THES article reports the academics have also lobbied for universities to be allowed to rent out unused property and for tax breaks for people who donate money to tertiary institutions.

Private tertiary institutions boom in Australia

Foreign universities are soon to set up in Australia as the tertiary sector goes through a private sector boom.

An American institution is to set up in Adelaide and two registrations are said to be likely for Sydney, the Times Higher Education Supplement reported earlier this year.

More than 30 private institutions are now able to access the government's FEE-HELP scheme and are using that availability to promote their courses.

Greece planning to allow private institutions

The Greek government has proposed a change to the constitution to allow private universities to operate, the Times Higher Education Supplement has reported.

Private institution gets power to grant degrees

The College of Law has become the United Kingdom's first private higher education institution to be given the power to grant its own degrees.

A Times Online story about the College of Law is at this web page.