GLOBAL: Academic autonomy intelligence worldwide

A new rule has made it more difficult for asylum seekers in the UK to go to university, through classification as foreign students instead of origin. In Egypt, security guards have violently dispersed students protesting in front of the Ministry of Higher Education in Cairo, Bahrain and 20-year-old student and poet Eat al-Qarmezi faces prison for reading a poem critical of the regime during a pro-democracy demonstration. Six Italian seismologists and a government official faced trial for the deaths associated with the earthquake that destroyed L'Aquila in April 2009.

United Kingdom: The new rules prohibiting asylum seekers to enter university

The British government has launched a new rule that makes it harder for asylum seekers to enter university in the UK, The Guardian reported on 31 May. Since February, asylum seekers who have obtained discretionary leave to remain in the UK awaiting refugee status and who want to go to college, are classified as foreign students.

This special rule is aimed at young asylum seekers who arrive unaccompanied in the country, since it implies that they have to pay the higher price and are not eligible for loans and grants oi not have family to support them. Previously, asylum seekers without refugee status were considered as student fees paid house and home.

This year, the higher rates will also affect the chances of asylum seekers receiving financial aid. Indeed Alison East, a lawyer Project migrant children, explained that many organizations previously involved in financing the education of refugees are helping students at home struggling with rising rates, which is even more difficult to provide assistance to asylum seekers now forced to pay international rates.

Many social workers are concerned about the consequences of changing rules. As argued by Wes Strewing, Executive Director of the Helena Kennedy Foundation, asylum seekers are expected to contribute to British society and education can provide them the means to do so.

But the direct result of the rule change is that many of them leave education, they can not finance their studies. This new rule penalizes heavily for these students, who have encountered traumatic experiences.

EGYPT: Clashes between students and security guards protest

Ministry of Higher Education security guards violently dispersed students protesting in front of the ministry building in Cairo, Al-Mary Al-You reported on 7 June. Security guards of the ministry were breaking strength student protests since 30 May.

They used fire hoses, dust and rocks to disperse the students, injuring two of them had to be taken to hospital. According to an eyewitness who wishes to remain anonymous, employees of the Ministry have been unable to handle the crisis protesters and security guards have harassed.

The students, mainly from technical schools and higher education institutions have been protesting against the Minister of Higher Education, accusing him of not fulfilling his promise to lower the minimum qualifications to enter institutions engineering and commerce.

Students also have asked the ministry to respect the 2007 decree of the Supreme Council of Universities to recognize diplomas from technical universities "as equivalent to university degrees nontechnical.

The protesters sat in front of the Ministry of nine days, waiting for the minister to meet with them and their demands.

Egyptian students have been protesting for months, demanding better learning conditions and changes in the education system.