UK Student News-PSW

Rollback of post-study work rules mooted

Collected By The Weekly Discovery

Meeting at Treasury hints at moves to repair visa policy’s harm to universities

SOURCE: ALAMY

Still waiting: many international students were angered by the closing of the post-study work route in April 2012

The government is considering relaxing post-study work rules for overseas students at research-intensive universities in what would amount to a bid to repair the damage to international recruitment caused by its visa policy.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, hosted a high-level meeting of sector leaders on how to attract more overseas students to UK universities. This may be a sign that the department is applying its muscle against the Home Office over the impact of its crackdown on immigration.

At the meeting at the Treasury last week, the Russell Group is said to have told Mr Alexander that its members are missing out on 5,000 international students a year because of current visa rules.

The possible reintroduction of post-study work visas for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects was also discussed. Some in government are thought to favour relaxing post-study work restrictions for a subset of Russell Group institutions, while others would like to extend this to a wider group of research-intensive universities.

A spokesman for the Russell Group said that it did not comment on private meetings.

An invitation sent to attendees billed the Treasury meeting as “an opportunity for government and the sector to come together to discuss the challenges of, and potential solutions to, recruiting more international students”.

That goes against the rhetoric of the Home Office, which talks of attracting “the best and the brightest” international students amid a drive to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands by 2015.

Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have battled the Home Office in an effort to protect higher education from the impact of that policy. David Willetts, the universities and science minister, has called for overseas students to be exempted from the net migration target, while Vince Cable, the business secretary, has said it is “irrational” and “potty” to include students in the target.

The desire of Mr Alexander to gather policy ideas for the Liberal Democrats ahead of the next general election may have been another driver behind the Treasury meeting.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute and former special adviser to Mr Willetts in BIS, said: “The Treasury could have taken a stronger line on international students long ago, so this meeting is welcome.

“But tweaks to the rules for STEM subjects or for particular institutions may not go far enough.

“All legitimate international students coming to legitimate institutions benefit the UK, so they should all be welcomed. The rules have to catch up with reality, but the Home Office has been able to stop that happening to date.”

Scheduled attendees at the meeting included Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England; Sir Eric Thomas, vice-chancellor of the University of Bristol and UK international “education champion”; Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group; and Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of new universities. Mr Cable’s special adviser, Giles Wilkes, was another on the guest list.

Overseas campuses were one item on the agenda, under the heading of “innovative ideas to promote UK exports”.

Mr Alexander is said to have suggested that UK universities are not entrepreneurial enough overseas, pressing a University of Nottingham representative about the financial returns from its Asia campuses.

But sector representatives are thought to have stressed that branch campus returns often came in research collaborations and “soft power” rather than in direct payments.

Mr Alexander is also said to have been concerned to hear of the money “lost” to the sector by payments to overseas recruiting agents. The meeting is thought to have explored a possible bigger role for the British Council in acting as an “agent” for UK universities in emerging markets.

Some sector representatives pressed the case for reintroducing post-study work in all subjects, rather than just in STEM disciplines.

The post-study work route was closed in April 2012. Now, overseas graduates from UK universities must have a job with a salary of at least £20,300 if they wish to stay in the country. However, there is an exemption to the salary threshold for those with PhDs, and Mr Cable has already mooted extending this to master’s graduates and those with first-class bachelor’s degrees.

Labour may also step up the pressure on the coalition with an alternative immigration policy to give greater scope for growing “education exports”.

Liam Byrne, the shadow universities, science and skills minister, says in this week’s Times Higher Education that UK universities are “losing market share” in terms of international students. It is “simply ridiculous” that students are included in the net migration target, he writes.

The Weekly Discovery assumes The Post Study Work Route will be reopen to the all TIER - 4 Graduates.

Source: Times Higher Education

World,

Iran will produce the ultra-modern missile by 2016.

By Osman Monshi, BA(Hons), MSc(Student at BPP)

By the month of March 2016, Iran wants to produce ultramodern missile with its own technological capacity. For this purpose, the Iranian Governments have prioritized the whole process and strengthened their activities to finish the job.
Iran missile system will be more developed and powerful than Russian missile system, named S-300, that Russia wanted to give Iranian government.
By quoting a senior commander, Iran’s state television, Press TV telecasted this news online.
Khatama Al - anabiya air defense base commander General Pharajad Ismaily said infrastructural facilities was prepared for the missile system, named Babur -373. The project has already overcome the initial barriers. He also said the missile system will be created by the end of Iran’s five-year plan in 2016.
Pharajad Ismaily said, "at the end of the project, we will be more powerful than the S -300, & we will be more capable to add to the security of the sky.
In 2007, according to the agreement between Iran and Russia, The Russia was committed to supply at least five S-300 missiles to the Iranian official.
But in the end, due to the fourth round of sanctions on Tehran from the UN Security Council, Russia has not provided the missiles and shown an excuse.
From the last few years, Iran has demonstrated the capabilities by improving their military equipment and systems. It has been claimed by the officials of Iran that the country has made these arms and weapons for self-defense only.

Source: Prothom-alo.

Health and Education

Insomnia 

By Murad A Alam, A Medicine Student

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:

Difficulty falling asleep
Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
Waking up too early in the morning
Feeling tired upon waking
Types of Insomnia

There are two types of insomnia: primary insomnia and secondary insomnia.
Primary insomnia: Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem.
Secondary insomnia: Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition (like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn); pain; medication they are taking; or a substance they are using (like alcohol).
Acute vs. Chronic Insomnia

Insomnia also varies in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. It can be short-term (acute insomnia) or can last a long time (chronic insomnia). It can also come and go, with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems. Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. Insomnia is called chronic when a person has insomnia at least three nights a week for a month or longer.
Causes of Insomnia

Causes of acute insomnia can include:




Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, moving)
Illness
Emotional or physical discomfort
Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
Some medications (for example those used to treat colds, allergies, depression,high blood pressure, and asthma) may interfere with sleep
Interferences in normal sleep schedule (jet lag or switching from a day to night shift, for example)

Causes of chronic insomnia include:
Depression and/or anxiety
Chronic stress
Pain or discomfort at night


Symptoms of Insomnia

Symptoms of insomnia can include:
Sleepiness during the day
General tiredness
Irritability
Problems with concentration or memory
Diagnosing Insomnia

If you think you have insomnia, talk to your health care provider. An evaluation may include a physical exam, a medical history, and a sleep history. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a week or two, keeping track of your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day. Your health care provider may want to interview your bed partner about the quantity and quality of your sleep. In some cases, you may be referred to a sleep center for special tests.
Treatment for Insomnia

Acute insomnia may not require treatment. Mild insomnia often can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits (see below). If your insomnia makes it hard for you to function during the day because you are sleepy and tired, your health care provider may prescribe sleeping pills for a limited time. Rapid onset, short-acting drugs can help you avoid effects such as drowsiness the following day. Avoid using over-the-counter sleeping pills for insomnia, because they may have undesired side effects and tend to lose their effectiveness over time.

Treatment for chronic insomnia includes first treating any underlying conditions or health problems that are causing the insomnia. If insomnia continues, your health care provider may suggest behavioral therapy. Behavioral approaches help you to change behaviors that may worsen insomnia and to learn new behaviors to promote sleep. Techniques such as relaxation exercises, sleep restriction therapy, and reconditioning may be useful.j

Entertainment

Whole Bengalis protest against Indian film 'Gunday' !!

Kazi Shahidul Ahmed (Raton) ,Glyndwr University, London .

Without any consideration from now every Bengali people should say " NO " to indian movie and culture . Let's stop to do praise them . It is crystal clear indian's never considers us as a friend or respected neighbour by making GUNDAY kinds of movie they have proved again India doesn't care whatever Bangladesh kinda tiny country gonna feel whether it is good or bad !! It's really hurts when some one will try to explain your history wrongly or try to destroy yourself intentionally . Yash Raj movie production made this movie and they have described every false about Bangladesh clearly tried to make us down . They never thought we can realize these facts as they always counts us as poor, tiny, uneducated country whether it is economical or competition in a cricket ground but we are Bengali people we know how to save our pride, how to save our history , how to save our mother's tradition . We used to protest and we will protest whenever, whoever attack on our culture or our pride . We have this guts to win any competition or match if you want proof you are invited to our cricket ground but stop being stupid Please as we are small country .

Expressing deep sense of hurt and disappointment, Dhaka has strongly protested releasing the Hindi film ‘Gunday’ for its derogatory remarks and distortion of historical facts. “The matter has already been taken up officially with the Indian authorities and strong protest has been conveyed to the Indian side,” said a press release of the foreign ministry today. It said the government has also expressed its deep sense of hurt and disappointment about clearing of the film by the Central Board of Film Certification, Government of India. The ministry has requested the Indian authorities to take appropriate actions to stop screening of the film in its present form with immediate effect, the press release added. The foreign ministry said ministry’s attention has been drawn to the media reports and reactions of people particularly in the social networking sites on the film which has recently been released in India. The ministry and the Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi have been working on ascertaining the veracity of the reported derogatory remarks/distortion of historical facts in the film since it came to the notice of the ministry as soon as the film was released.

At the end of the writing as a proud Bengali and a powerful viewer I would like to request to the Indian government that, Bollywood is huge and it's entertaining millions viewer everyday which is massive matter but don't under estimate any ones culture or his national history it's really creates bad effect to that country's tradition and it's generation . You India could be very big as an elephant but we Bengali small but world known us as tiger so be good ......

Politics

Obama meets with Dalai Lama despite China warnings

By M A Amin, A Student at Glyndwr

U.S. President Barack Obama held low-key talks with the Dalai Lama at the White House on Friday after warnings from Beijing that the meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader would "seriously damage" ties with Washington.

The private meeting lasted about an hour, although the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was not seen by White House photographers as he entered or exited the complex.

The White House sidestepped questions about whether it was worried Obama's meeting - his third with the Dalai Lama - would upset its relationship with China.



China calls the Dalai Lama, who fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959, a "wolf in sheep's clothing" who seeks to use violent methods to establish an independent Tibet. The Dalai Lama maintains he only wants genuine autonomy for Tibet and denies advocating violence.



Obama reaffirmed his support for Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions and human rights for Tibetans, the White House said in a statement.

Obama also said he does not support Tibetan independence from China and the Dalai Lama said he was not seeking it.

"We will continue to urge the Chinese government to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives without pre-conditions as a means to reduce tensions," he said.

The meeting came at a sensitive time for Sino-U.S. relations after China's increasingly assertive behavior in the East China and South China seas.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said "(If) the U.S. president wishes to meet any person, it's his own affair, but he cannot meet the Dalai," she said. "The Dalai is definitely not a pure religious figure. He is using the cloak of religion to engage in long-term activities to separate China. He is a political exile."

"It will seriously damage Sino-U.S. relations," she added.

Sci-Tech and Business

How Will WhatsApp Coexist With a Company Whose Business It Hates?

By Sabuj Mia, London

In recent weeks Facebook (FB) has been talking up the strategy it hopes will help keep it from fading into obsolescence during its second decade. In earnings calls and profiles in prestigious business publications, Mark Zuckerberg has talked about the value of services that are part of the company but also stand on their own. A best-case scenario could be a sort of General Electric of the Internet, where self-reinforcing brands add up to something greater than the sum of their parts; a worse outcome would resemble the tribal warfare of post-Soviet Afghanistan, or Microsoft under Steve Ballmer.

On Wednesday, Facebook took its boldest step yet in this direction, acquiring WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock. This is a lot of money even in the San Francisco area, and there have been various reasons given for why Zuckerberg interrupted his Valentine’s Day and dedicated 10 percent of the value of his company to acquiring a mobile messaging service with a credo—”No ads, no gimmicks, no games”—that is anathema to Facebook’s own.

There’s the scary competitor theory, where Facebook buys off companies that it can’t compete with to get them off the market. At $19 billion per, this tactic doesn’t scale. The pied piper theory, where Facebook will pay anything for the flute playing the tune that gets teenagers (and especially foreign teenagers) marching, has more credence. WhatsApp has 450 million users, and is certainly outpacing Facebook in key international markets. In India, 55 percent of respondents to a survey by mobile technology platform Jana said WhatsApp was their most-used messaging service, compared with just 0.85 percent for Facebook. Large majorities of Internet users in Brazil and Mexico also said WhatsApp was their favorite messaging app, with Facebook lagging far behind.

VIDEO: Why WhatsApp Makes Perfect Sense for Facebook

Facebook has bought users in the past, most notably in the now cheap-seeming $1 billion deal for Instagram. Such connections can make sense, with the smaller service gaining access to Facebook’s infrastructure and resources, and Facebook getting a chance to reach an audience it has trouble connecting with on its own. On the other hand, each of these deals should presumably help Facebook with at least one side of its major business, which is turning data into advertising revenue. The company either needs to get more data or needs a new market for ads. Here, WhatsApp seems like a mismatch.

Facebook-owned companies don’t have to become part of Facebook’s core service. WhatsApp has made it clear that it has no plans to be swallowed, referring to the acquisition only as a “partnership” on its blog. Fine. Instagram still exists as a separate service. But the real cognitive dissonance from this deal comes from WhatsApp’s extreme rejection of advertising as a way to make money. The home page of its website has two sections, one describing how the service works and the other decrying advertising, quoting Tyler Durden from Fight Club: “Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need.” Nor does WhatsApp collect any demographic information about its users. These are exactly the things Facebook could help it with.

WhatsApp can prove its worth by coming up with some novel, non-ad-based way to profit from its enormous user base. But there’s nothing obvious about its alliance with Facebook that will make that any easier. Meanwhile, the wasted opportunity to mine user data to target ads must be a bitter pill for Zuckerberg to swallow. For now, at least, he’s going along with it, saying that he doesn’t think advertising is a good way to make money from mobile messaging. It would be embarrassing to change tack at this point, and would likely alienate users. It must also be incredibly tempting.

Source: BusinessWeek