George Washington’s fashion, universities’ evolution and more, in readers’ eyes.

Students have erupted in protests across Iranian universities, following a brutal crackdown last month that killed thousands. This comes as US President Trump is reportedly weighing military strikes against Iran.

A new wave of demonstrations, including both anti-regime protests and pro-regime counter-rallies, erupted over the weekend at at least five universities in Tehran, Iran.

A discussion explores how artificial intelligence, particularly tools like ChatGPT, is transforming the teaching and learning processes in universities and reshaping the role of lecturers, alongside concerns about children's online safety.

Iranian students organized demonstrations to mark the anniversary of suppressed protests, gathering at several universities where tensions were high. Some students waved monarchist flags and chanted opposing slogans.

A report highlights a concerning trend where a growing number of young people are unaware of the Holocaust, and its history is less frequently taught in universities, prompting concerns about the memory of this historical crime fading.

Iran's state news agency said students protested at five universities in the capital, Tehran, and one in the city of Mashhad on Sunday.

Mass protests against the government in Iran have flared up again after being violently suppressed in January, with students demonstrating at several universities across the country at the start of the new semester.

Getty Images Are you feeling lost among the AI slop? You might want to major in English. Humanities skills, once undervalued, are now in demand in AI-driven markets. Universities are rethinking how they teach liberal arts in the AI age — and students are loving it. At the University of Colorado Boulder, you can take a course co-taught by an applied mathematician and a Renaissance scholar. "The students love it," said John-Michael Rivera, the school's dean of arts and humanities, of the clas...

Anti-regime Protests Break Out in Top Iran Universities as U.S. Strike Appears Imminent  Haaretz

Clashes have broken out in Tehran following student protests at several universities, where demonstrators chanted against the government and expressed solidarity with those killed in recent protests.

Students at several Iranian universities have organized anti-government protests, marking the first such large-scale gatherings since a deadly crackdown on demonstrators last month.

Two individuals from the southwest, sharing a love for boats, engage in a 'Dining Across the Divide' discussion, tackling contentious topics like university tuition fees and NHS funding.

Anti-regime Protests Break Out in Top Iran Universities as U.S. Strike Appears Imminent  Haaretz

Iranian students chanted anti-government slogans and scuffled with counterprotesters on Saturday in the latest display of anger at the country's clerical leaders, who also face a US military build-up aimed at pressuring them into a nuclear deal. The gatherings at universities, which were reported by both local and diaspora media outlets, followed a mass protest movement that was met with a government crackdown last month that left thousands dead. The crackdown had prompted US President Donald Tr

Dozens of universities have received legal letters from students seeking compensation for what they say they missed out on during Covid.

Kenyan public universities are grappling with a Sh260 billion budget deficit, exacerbated by a Sh60 billion debt owed to private universities for government-sponsored students, a figure expected to increase.

The White House has pressured universities to sever ties with a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting racial minorities, leading to significant changes in academic partnerships.

A group of academics at the University of British Columbia say the school’s D.E.I. policies and practices, which include land acknowledgments, violate a law that requires universities to be “nonpolitical.”

Thousands of UCL students have won a £21 million settlement over disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, a move expected to pressure other universities to offer similar compensation.

Over 6,000 students, including 30 Indians, have settled with UCL over Covid disruptions. This paves the way for legal action against 36 more British universities for around 100,000 students, including 217 Indians, who paid for in-person education but received online classes and restricted campus access. Lawyers seek damages for the diminished value of their degrees.

Survey by Australian Human Rights Commission found universities failed to meet duty of care, while complaints processes were ‘Kafkaesque’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Racism is “systemic” at Australia’s universities, according to a landmark report found students have mocked their Palestinian peers with shouts of “terrorism”, some students have been followed by campus security and First Nations students have been compared to “petrol sniffers” in lecture halls. The report also found Jewish students were fearful to attend classes, with one harassed for wearing their kippa walking to class and another who described people screaming “send them to the camps” at a group of Jews on campus. Continue reading...

Over 170,000 students in England and Wales are seeking compensation from universities for online teaching during the pandemic, following a UCL settlement.

Two universities in Texas have been recognized among the best in the world, highlighting their academic excellence and global standing.

Hong Kong sees a rise in non-local university students, while the Netherlands reverses curbs on English-taught programs to attract international students, and South Korea bars universities from issuing student visas amid a crackdown.

A new wave of anti-government protests, which began on Saturday at several Iranian universities, has now spread to additional campuses.

Students across Iranian universities have resumed protests, calling for regime change amidst ongoing domestic unrest and international scrutiny.

Universities in Northern Greece are exploring new collaborations with Bulgarian universities, following contacts made on February 16 in Sofia during a tour by the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace to Balkan capitals.

The government-affiliated Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) reportedly spent 82 million Hungarian Forints supporting programs by the Roger Scruton Foundation at Cambridge and Oxford universities, according to a British civil organization.

US universities are increasingly drawing on their endowments to cover operational costs, as they face rising expenses and cuts in traditional funding sources.

Fresh anti-Government protests have erupted in Iran as students held protests which led to clashes at several ​Iranian universities

Several public universities hold land without title deeds, lease agreements or transfer documents.

Student groups reported protests at universities in Iran’s two largest cities as the government grapples with domestic discontent and the threat of U.S. strikes.

Universities in Tehran have historically been sites of student protests since the 1979 revolution, frequently resulting in confrontations with security forces.

More than a hundred prominent academics from universities and research institutions across the country have issued a strongly worded joint statement, criticising the Indian Youth Congress protest at the India AI Impact Summit

Students at several universities in Iran have staged anti-government protests - the first such rallies on this scale since last month's deadly crackdown by the authorities.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared 32 universities as fake, with Delhi having the highest number at 12.

Iranian students chanted anti-government slogans and clashed with counter-protesters at universities, demonstrating ongoing anger at the clerical leadership amidst a US military build-up aimed at pressuring Iran into a nuclear deal.

Students in Iran are protesting for the second day in a row, with sit-ins reported at universities in Tehran and Mashhad.

Two individuals from southwestern England, despite sharing a love for boats, engaged in a discussion about differing views on university tuition fees and NHS funding.

The rise of AI is leading to a renewed appreciation for humanities skills, such as critical thinking and communication, which were previously undervalued. Universities are now re-evaluating liberal arts education to meet the demands of the evolving AI-driven job market.

Chinese students are increasingly opting for vocational degrees over traditional prestigious universities, driven by a desire for practical skills, even when scoring high enough for top institutions.

Dozens of universities have received legal letters from students demanding compensation for perceived missed opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dozens of universities have received legal letters from students demanding compensation for perceived missed opportunities and experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Pentagon has identified 33 universities as 'moderate' or 'high' risk for military education, according to a leaked list.

Serpell leaves no stone unturned in her deep and enriching portrait of the Nobel laureate’s oeuvre I have waited years for this book. But before I tell you what it is, I had better tell you what it is not. On Morrison is not a biography. Except for scattered references, there is little here about Chloe Anthony Wofford’s birth and early life in Lorain, Ohio; her education at Howard and Cornell universities; her editorial work at Random House; or her phenomenal success as a novelist. Nor is this book for fans who turn to Toni Morrison for inspirational quotes or to score political points. Instead, On Morrison offers readers who can tell their Soaphead Church from their Schoolteacher something they have long hoped for: a rigorous appraisal of the work. Despite her enormous contribution to American letters, Morrison’s novels are still too often read for what they have to say about black life, rather than how they say it. Song of Solomon and Jazz are more likely to be found on African American studies syllabi than creative writing ones. In her introduction to On Morrison, Namwali Serpell identifies the reason: “She is difficult to read. She is difficult to teach.” Continue reading...

Following the release of the Epstein files, some universities have taken action involving faculty or affiliates named in the documents, prompting a call for students and professors to share their experiences.

Ten public universities in Kenya reportedly spent 2.8 billion shillings without proper documentation, raising concerns about illegal payments and perks.

Lecturers at Heriot-Watt University and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland have voted in favor of strike action in disputes over proposed cuts.

Following a settlement by University College London, students are now pursuing Covid-19 compensation claims against 36 additional universities for lost learning during the pandemic.

Students at universities across Iran, including Tehran’s Al Zahra University, have held a third consecutive day of protests, chanting 'Death to the dictator' one month after a security crackdown.

A round table conference for Vice-Chancellors of All India Public Open Universities has commenced, with the Higher Education Minister highlighting the crucial role of open universities in future learning.

Hong Kong's universities are experiencing growing popularity among students from Southeast Asia and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, in addition to their appeal to mainland Chinese students.

An investigation is underway into a Sh20 billion land grab involving several public universities in Kenya, with cartels and officials under scrutiny for holding land without proper documentation.

Student protests at Iranian universities have persisted for a third day, following the delayed start of the new semester due to earlier mass demonstrations.

Seodaemun-gu in Seoul, traditionally an education district with nine universities, is now transforming into a hub for global talent.

The United Kingdom is rejoining the Erasmus program, allowing for student and youth exchanges starting mid-2027, with schools and universities encouraged to establish partnerships now.

Chinese universities are reportedly moving away from traditional language degrees to prioritize country-specific and regional studies, a strategic shift aimed at developing a unique Chinese global perspective.

Iranian students gathered for fresh pro- and anti-government rallies Sunday commemorating those killed in recent protests, as fears loomed of renewed conflict with the United States over the country's

Italy has implemented an automatic anti-fraud system for the Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator (ISEE), eliminating the need for manual submission for schools and universities.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) is turning to universities to foster homegrown innovation within the sport.

A round table conference for Vice-Chancellors of public open universities in Thiruvananthapuram will focus on developing a credit transfer framework, leveraging digital technologies, and promoting AI in education.

For the first time in over a month, demonstrations have been reported at universities in several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Mashhad, and Abdanan, against the regime.

Iranian students gathered at universities, chanting anti-government slogans, following a recent crackdown on mass protests and amidst looming threats from the U.S.

New protests have erupted at universities across Iran, occurring amidst escalating external tensions with the US and increasing internal pressure, with growing public distance from religious symbols.

Estonian universities are increasingly offering master's students the option to complete their degree with a final exam instead of a thesis. This shift is seen by some as practical, though others express concerns about its implications for graduates' skills.

Iranian students are protesting at universities, chanting anti-government slogans and clashing with counter-protesters, as anger grows amid tensions with the US.

Turkey is actively working to establish itself as a leading destination for university education, particularly targeting Muslim students.

The student protesters honoured thousands of those killed when nationwide mass protests were put down last month.

Dozens of universities have received legal letters from students demanding compensation for perceived missed opportunities and disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

How Bhattacharya's NIH Is Rethinking China, DEI, And High‑Risk Labs Authored by Jeff Louderback, Jan Jekielek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), For decades, scientists have looked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as an agency that publishes papers, according to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, in Washington, on Feb. 8, 2026. Irene Luo/The Epoch Times Under President Donald Trump’s second term, the emphasis for NIH funding has shifted to “provable, testable hypotheses, not ideological narratives,” he said, which is resulting in widespread reforms to the agency. Bhattacharya, who obtained both a doctorate in economics and a medical degree from Stanford University within three years of each other, outlined changes that the NIH has implemented in his first year as the agency’s director and talked about his vision for the next three years in an interview with Epoch Times Senior Editor Jan Jekielek. The NIH has been instrumental in medical advances for decades, Bhattacharya said, but in the 21st century, it became “much more of a staid institution, not willing to take intellectual risks.” During the same time, the agency “was willing to take risks on dangerous gain-of-function and other social agendas, like DEI, that it had no business really engaging in.” “I think the NIH now, under my leadership, under President Trump’s leadership, and under what Secretary [Robert F.] Kennedy is looking over … is focused on actually addressing the chronic health problems of this country, reversing the flatlining of life expectancy, and making good on its mission ... research that improves the health and longevity of the American people, and the whole world,” he said. One of the 13 agencies managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH is the largest supporter of biomedical research globally, providing 85 percent of all biomedical research funding worldwide, according to Bhattacharya. It funds about $50 billion in scientific research via grants to hundreds of thousands of researchers at academic institutions and hospitals, he said. The NIH is not an agency that makes decisions or policies about public health directly, Bhattacharya said, noting that he intends to “remove the politicization of science that has existed for decades.” The National Institutes of Health Gateway Center in Bethesda, Md., on June 8, 2025. During President Donald Trump’s second term, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said the agency “is focused on actually addressing the chronic health problems of this country.” Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters/File Photo Political Agendas Over the past 15 to 20 years, the NIH has incorporated political rather than scientific agendas, Bhattacharya told The Epoch Times. “Probably the most prominent example of this is DEI—diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said. “If you were a researcher outside the NIH, the ticket to getting sort of extra, relatively easy funds was to promise to do DEI research. Looking into it, much of that research had no real scientific basis at all. I don’t even characterize this as science.” As an example, Bhattacharya used a project that studied the question: “Is structural racism the root reason why African Americans have worse hypertension results than other races?” “The problem with that hypothesis is that there’s no way to test it,” he said. “If structural racism is the cause, then what control group can you have to test the idea that that is true? ... None of that actually translated over to better health for anybody, much less for African Americans. “Scientists of the country understand that if they want NIH support, they need to propose projects that have the chance of improving the health of people rather than achieving some ideology that should not belong at the NIH.” The NIH has redirected its funding since Trump took office for his second term. That includes allocating funds for “early career scientists,” Bhattacharya said. President Donald Trump (C) speaks as National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (2nd L) looks on during a press conference at the White House on May 12, 2025. The NIH redirected its funding priorities after Trump began his second term. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Funding Changes There should be “fundamental changes” with the way the NIH funds educational institutions, Bhattacharya said, and he intends to work with Congress “to make [this] happen.” On Jan. 5, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration cannot reduce the amount of money the NIH pays grant recipients for indirect costs, including administration and facility maintenance. The ruling applies to three lawsuits filed by the attorneys general of Massachusetts and 21 other states, as well as hospitals, schools, and the associations that represent them. The NIH published a guidance document in February 2025 to limit how much grant funding could flow to research institutions to cover their indirect costs. These are costs that cannot be directly attributed to an individual research project and include expenses related to funding equipment, facilities, and research staff. The guidance document states that these indirect costs could not exceed 15 percent of funding for direct research costs, regardless of the costs incurred at universities. The NIH stated that Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Harvard charged in excess of 60 percent for indirect costs, even though they had billions of dollars in endowments. Attorneys for those who filed suit said small universities don’t have such large endowments and that if the guidance took effect, there would be many layoffs, stalled clinical trials, and laboratory closures. “If you don’t have amazing scientists who can win the grants, you’re not going to get the facility support. But in order to attract excellent scientists to your institution, you have to have excellent facilities. It’s the kind of Catch-22 that guarantees that our funding from the NIH is going to be concentrated in relatively few institutions,” Bhattacharya said. Scientists at schools such as the University of Alabama, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Kansas deserve access to funding like Stanford and Harvard, he said. A researcher studies skin wound healing in a lab at the University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago on March 5, 2025. On Jan. 5, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration could not limit the percentage amount the National Institutes of Health pays grant recipients for indirect costs, including administrative expenses and facility maintenance. Scott Olson/Getty Images Dealing With China The NIH must be “very careful about how we fund research relationships with China, especially post-pandemic,” Bhattacharya said. “The U.S. invested in the Chinese biomedical research enterprise. Almost every single top Chinese biomedical research scientist of note was funded in some part by the NIH. Many were trained in the United States, so we invested heavily in that,” he said. “Post-pandemic, and especially given the geopolitical circumstances we are in now, it looks, in retrospect, like it wasn’t all that wise an investment.” The NIH must implement more secure measures with foreign research, he said, referencing the collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology. “In the case of Wuhan, what happened was that the NIH funded … Eco Health Alliance, which had a sub-award relationship with the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” Bhattacharya said. “When the pandemic happened, and the NIH had an interest in getting the lab notebooks of what exactly was studied in Wuhan, the Eco Health Alliance essentially delayed reporting at all about what it knew had happened,” Bhattacharya said. “They ultimately said, ‘Oh, well, we don’t control Wuhan Institute of Virology. We can’t get the lab notebooks.’” He noted that the NIH “funded research in collaboration with China that was actually quite dangerous and may indeed have led to the pandemic.” Under Bhattacharya, the NIH now has more stringent auditing processes with domestic and foreign institutions. “If it is NIH-funded, then [the domestic and the foreign institutions] have to have direct auditing relationships united with the NIH,“ he said. ”Then the NIH can shut off money to the foreign institution, if it’s not cooperating. ... It’s called a sub-project system. It’s one of the first things that I did.” Read the rest here... Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 21:45

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday took notice of the alleged death by suicide of a medical student from Lahore’s Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) and sought a report. Moreover, observing the lack of strengthened student support systems, the council also advised all medical and dental colleges to hire qualified counsellors/psychologists to provide timely guidance, and mental and physical health support to students in distress. On Tuesday night, a 22-year-old female student allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the fourth floor of a hostel at FJMU. The student in question was a resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and was living in the varsity’s government hostel in Lahore. On Thursday, a letter from the PMDC registrar to the FJMU principal, available with Dawn, stated that in light of the seriousness of the incident and its impact on the student community, the council was directing the college to share a factual account of the incident so that the medical body may remain informed and, if necessary, extend any appropriate support or guidance. The PMDC directed the principal to share details within seven days; these included the date, time, and brief circumstances of the incident as per institutional records; details of any inquiry or fact-finding committee constituted, including its composition and terms of reference; any initial findings and/or the expected timeline for completion of the committee’s report; steps already taken or planned to strengthen student mental health support and counselling services; and safety measures in the hostel following the unfortunate event. The letter stated that medical and dental students represented the brightest and most valuable segment of the nation’s future healthcare workforce. “Incidents of this nature are deeply alarming and highlight the urgent need to strengthen student support systems in medical and dental institutions. The PMDC focuses on protecting and safeguarding the physical and mental well-being of students and ensuring that educational environments remain supportive, safe, and responsive to student needs,” it stated. Moreover, the PMDC advised all medical and dental colleges to hire qualified counsellors/psychologists to provide timely guidance and mental and physical health support to students in distress. It also advised universities to establish effective student support mechanisms, including confidential counselling services and maintain vigilant monitoring of student wellbeing, with special attention to signs of psychological stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. It reiterated that proactive mental health support and timely counselling could play a critical role in preventing such incidents and in protecting the precious lives and future of students. In January, a student at a private university in Lahore had attempted suicide by jumping from the second floor. A month earlier, a male student at the same university had also ended his life by jumping from the varsity’s fourth floor.

A discussion questions whether economics curricula in universities are increasingly losing their humane aspect, prompting a debate on the ethical and social dimensions of economic education.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is showing a softer approach on the Liancourt Rocks dispute with South Korea and is also focusing on universities as tools of national strategy.

Dozens of universities are facing legal action from students seeking compensation for disruptions experienced during the pandemic.

Following a successful settlement with UCL, Student Group Claim is expanding its legal action against other universities regarding Covid-affected studies.

A report reveals systemic racism at Australian universities, with a high percentage of students and staff experiencing indirect racism, while Angus Taylor disowns a leaked migration policy.

Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit ‘It’s been life-changing’: young Britons on why they left the UK When Greenwich and Kent universities said this month they would merge to save money, the heart of their financial difficulties could be found in the UK government’s crackdown on immigration. Tough restrictions on foreign students have sent the number of university applications from abroad plummeting, cutting lucrative tuition fees and leaving all universities facing the same squeeze. Continue reading...