Author: robin.mclay

By: Georgia Alexander and Rob McLay Abstract Canada is admitting fewer international students as stricter rules decide who can come and when. Campus budgets are already feeling it as hiring slows, student services shrink, and building plans pause. Fewer students now can mean smaller first year classes and fewer graduate researchers later. Canada stays competitive… Continue reading Canada’s International Student Puzzle: What New Study Permit Limits Mean for Campuses and Budgets

By: Xiaodong Wu, Yang Song and members of the GNX team Abstract Public trust in higher education is wobbling, but it is not gone. Families want straight answers on price, time to finish, and what graduates actually earn; students want steady rules and learning that leads to real jobs. When schools publish clear outcomes, set… Continue reading Trust in Higher Education Is Earned Not Assumed

By: Liang Cheng, Georgia Alexander and Rob McLay Introduction Classrooms from Toronto to Auckland are running on empty: UNESCO counts a 44 million teacher shortfall by 2030 and burnout is rising even in wealthy systems. Quick fixes fall short; what moves the needle is pay that competes, smaller classes and time to plan, safer schools,… Continue reading The Classroom is Running on Empty: Global School Systems Face a 44 Million Teacher Shortfall as Burnout Deepens

By Yang Song, Xiaodong Wu, Liang Cheng, (Global Nexus Team) At Global Nexus, we’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of traditional education—not by running these programs ourselves, but by helping students and families discover them in fresh, experiential ways. Imagine learning about innovative opportunities like Semester at Sea or Sea|mester while joining us for an… Continue reading Rethinking Education: Innovative Opportunities and Global Nexus Advisory Journeys

By Rob McLay and Kasto Festo Ng’itu Africa is experiencing the most rapid climate shifts in its history, with rising temperatures, severe droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather events threatening livelihoods, economies, and ecosystems. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have a unique and urgent role to play in meeting this challenge. They are not just centers… Continue reading Climate Change & Sustainability in African Higher Education

By Rob McLay, Yang Song, Liang Cheng, and Xiaodong Wu PrefaceThis commentary was inspired by the article 12 Challenges Facing Higher Education in 2025 (and Exemplars Addressing Them) published on Changing Higher Ed. We want to acknowledge and give full credit to the authors of that piece for framing the conversation so clearly. What follows… Continue reading Adapt or Fade: 12 Higher-Ed Challenges in 2025—and Institutions That Might Outlive Them

By Yang Song and Xiaodong Wu – some translation and research by AI tools As global labor markets undergo rapid transformation, higher education institutions face growing pressure to realign programs with the skills, competencies, and pathways that learners need to thrive in a rapidly shifting economy. From AI disruption and demographic transitions to regional talent… Continue reading Reimagining Higher Education: Workforce Partnerships and Career Alignment in a Global Context

By Rob McLay and Liang Cheng Yojana Sharma’s timely article in University World News (9 July 2025) raises a compelling question: can Asia become a “sanctuary” for global student talent amidst increasing geopolitical tensions and restrictive visa regimes in the West? From Singapore’s ministerial aspirations to South Korea’s nimble admissions pivots and Japan’s multimillion-dollar research… Continue reading Rethinking Global Student Mobility: Can Asia Truly Become a ‘Sanctuary’?

By Liang Cheng & Yang Song Introduction In an ever-evolving global economy, entrepreneurship represents not just a pathway to profit—but a cornerstone of resilient, inclusive livelihoods. Recent reports from 2024–2025 highlight its transformative effects on poverty, youth empowerment, climate resilience, and sustainable development. 1. Entrepreneurship as a Lifetime of Livelihoods 2. Driving Sustainable Livelihoods Growth… Continue reading The Vital Role of Entrepreneurship for Tomorrow’s Livelihoods

By Xiaodong Wu and Rob McLay As students and families around the world weigh their options for higher education, Canada is emerging as an increasingly attractive alternative to the United States. While the U.S. remains home to many of the world’s most prestigious universities, Canada offers a powerful combination of academic quality, affordability, diversity, and… Continue reading Why More Students Are Choosing Canada Over the U.S. for University