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South Africa achieved an overall student satisfaction score of 3.98, while Nigeria and Egypt scored 3.77 and 3.95, respectively.

by with No Comment Africa secures top spot in student educationsatisfaction.

The newly released 2023 Global Student Satisfaction Awards (GSSA) report provides fascinating insights into the experiences of students from over 200 nationalities at 3,661 institutions, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt.

According to the report, South Africa achieved an impressive overall student satisfaction score of 3.98, a remarkable feat that outpaces the global average of 4.21.

Furthermore, South African institutions also demonstrated excellence in enriching student life, scoring above the global average of 4.33. This achievement firmly places South Africa in the vanguard of education in Africa.

In addition, South African universities excelled in the online classroom experience category, scoring 3.96, outperforming the global mean of 3.86. Students who participated in the survey praised the country’s remote and online degree programs, emphasising the support provided by WhatsApp study groups and the proactive involvement of lecturers. University of Johannesburg

Nigeria received a lower overall satisfaction score of 3.77, falling short of the global average due to voiced concerns about the frequent and extended lecturer strikes, alongside the quality of teaching and available facilities. Those in South Africa who responded cited crime as their main challenge. These concerns contributed to a low score of 3.45 for Nigeria in quality of student life against a global average of 4.33.

“There are never-ending strikes, outdated curricula, and a persistent lack of adequate teaching facilities. Although my university is ranked as one of the best institutions of higher learning in the country, the teaching methods employed by the lecturers still have a long way to go,” one Nigerian student participant said in the report.

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Google Conference Scholarships (Africa)

by with No Comment Google Conference Scholarships (Africa)

Overview

At Google, we believe a diversity of attributes, experiences, and perspectives are needed to build tools that can change the world. We also believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue connections in the industry, networking with peers, and a career path in technology. To help break down the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups in technology and business from attending leading conferences, we’re excited to offer Google Conference Scholarships for selected conferences in the tech industry and related fields.

Scholarship eligibility varies by region, so please review the information on the region-specific tabs on the top. Scholarships will be awarded to the most qualified persons based on application review. Every applicant will be notified of their status according to the time frames specified for the region.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a scholarship to attend an international conference, applicants must:

  • Be a full-time student enrolled with a recognized university in Africa who is in need of conference travel funds.
  • Have a paper accepted at a top-tier computer science conference. We prefer to support conferences in research areas where Google has a strong interest. Please visit wokemavoyage-org.preview-domain.com  for a list of areas.
  • Be the sole or joint first author of the accepted paper.
  • Google employees are not eligible to apply for Google scholarships. Persons who are (1) residents of embargoed countries, (2) ordinarily resident in embargoed countries, or (3) otherwise prohibited by applicable export controls and sanctions programs may not apply for this scholarship.

Claim process

We review applications on a rolling basis, all year round, therefore eligible applicants will get our reply around four weeks of applying. Please apply for the grant well in advance of the Conference start date, as the payment completion timeline can be between 5-8 weeks. Once approved for a travel grant, the funds will be paid to the applicant’s university and the student may claim expenses using regular university procedures.

African student sitting in classroom. Male student smiling during the lecture in high school classroom.

Latest Global Updates on Student Visa Policies

by with No Comment Travel and Education

The United States is revoking visas of international students involved in political protests, leading to deportations. Homeland Security is investigating Columbia University for allegedly sheltering undocumented international students. Australia has introduced stricter regulations to eliminate fraudulent “ghost colleges” misusing student visa programs. A global survey shows a 41% decline in international postgraduate enrollments due to tightening visa restrictions. The United Kingdom has imposed new rules limiting student dependents to control rising migration numbers. Canada has announced a cap on international student permits to manage housing shortages and educational capacity. Germany is increasing work-hour limits for international students to help fill labor shortages in key industries. France is launching a fast-track visa system to attract high-achieving international students to its universities. New Zealand is adjusting post-study work rights to make its education sector more appealing to skilled graduates. Many countries are implementing stricter student visa policies, significantly impacting international education and mobility.

Recent Developments in Student Visa Policies

Visa Revocations at Columbia University:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken action against pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University. Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student, had her visa revoked on March 5 for “advocating for violence and terrorism” and left the U.S. on March 11. Another student, Mahmoud Khalil, has been detained as a national security risk due to his leadership in protests. These actions are part of broader measures against individuals involved in anti-Israel protests at the university