May/June 1999 Volume 12, Issue 3 CONTENTS REGIONAL NEWS Africa (cover page) The Americas Asia-Pacific E. Europe & NIS Middle East W. Europe PRACTICAL INFORMATION New Structure of Russian Higher Education RESEARCH Asian Students Have More Opportunities at Home eWENR & WES INFO eWENR Index: Contains links to all eWENR issues that are currently available for viewing. Masthead: Learn more about eWENR and its editorial staff. Subscriptions: Don't miss future issues of eWENR. World Education Services: Learn more about the organization that brings you eWENR. Comments: eWENR's editor welcomes your comments. If you have story ideas, suggestions or feedback regarding eWENR, e-mail us with the details. WENR Archives: You can read WENR back issues from Summer 1995 through Fall 1996. WENR Article Index Through 1996: Features an index of all WENR articles through Fall 1996.

REGIONAL NEWS  Africa  REUNION The University of the Indian Ocean commenced its first degree program last April — a master’s in business administration (MBA). Classes are conducted in both English and French. The university, which opened in January 1998 as a regional institution, is sponsored by five island nations situated off the coast of east Africa: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and the Seychelles. Although the school has no physical campus (it is being advertised as a university without walls), the MBA program is currently based at the University of Mauritius. The program takes one year to complete and includes a four-month internship. At present, there are eight schools taking part in the University of the Indian Ocean project: six in Madagascar, one in Mauritius and one in Reunion. Comoros and the Seychelles do not have colleges or universities of their own. The main office for the University of the Indian Ocean is located in St. Denis, the capital of Reunion. The European Union has pledged financial support for the university during the next three years. — Chronicle of Higher Education April 16, 1999 SOMALIA In 1997, the first university was opened in the self-proclaimed “Republic of Somaliland,” a former British protectorate situated in northwest Somalia. Local authorities have managed to restore law and order in this fledgling republic, which no country has formally recognized yet, while the rest of Somalia remains embroiled in intertribal conflict. Amoud University currently enrolls 66 students, including 10 women. Students who have been accepted at Amoud must complete two semesters of intensive English-language training before starting regular classes, which are taught in English. While construction of a permanent campus is being carried out in the town of Boroma, the university is temporarily holding classes at a local school. — Chronicle of Higher Education Jan. 15, 1999  RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS