Expert Comment
What should the title of the leader of a university be? In some ways, it’s a trivial question. But in some ways not. The deeper you go into the issue, the more complicated it becomes as different academic cultures reveal themselves.
South Korean universities are pushing hard to make an even bigger impact in the world and, at least to judge by rankings, confidence levels and the state of their campuses, they are clearly succeeding. The South Korean higher-education system is in overdrive although it still has some problems, particularly a fall in tuition fee income, driven by electoral politics and a substantial demographic downturn which will have rapid impacts on the numbers of domestic students arriving at university.
Leading economic historian and Director of the Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy Professor Nick Crafts compares the Chancellor of the Exchequer to Charles Dickens' ever-optimistic character - hoping that something will 'turn up' to boost his fortunes.
Professor Mark Harrison from the Department of Economics explores the link between the fall of economy and the rise of right-wing politics.
Right or Left? France faces political crossroads
Professor Nick Hewlett, from the 果冻传媒’s French department, is an expert in French politics, and is the author of The Sarkozy Phenomenon. Here he gives his thoughts on the results of the first round of this year’s French Presidential elections