Media: EuropeMedia looks at Spending on Higher Education and Research

"Post-secondary education and the integration of technology in the EU" by Jeff Thurston for EuropeMedia explores how the EU is tackling the fact that some countries (including Britain) are now spending less on activities that support innovation.

The article looks at funding for higher education and the twice-over benefit of well-developed graduates: as purchasers and as producers of innovative technology.

The report quotes the European Commission as saying that on average, EU member states spend 5% of GDP on public expenditure for education as a whole. This figure is comparable to that of the US and higher than that of Japan (3.5%). Public expenditure, however, has not increased with GDP in recent years in Europe, and has even dropped over the past decade. Total expenditure on post-secondary education alone has not increased in any member state in proportion to the growth in the number of students.

'The proportion of its GDP that the UK spends on R&D has also declined significantly, while in other advanced countries - including smaller countries like Sweden and Ireland - it has risen.'

Further, 'the Commission notes the low level of mobility for students between European countries, and that many students who attain some form of post-secondary education qualification do not start their own businesses.'

This article is a good overview of current EU thinking about innovation and education and, by implication, design research.

Associated Link: EuropeMedia: Post-secondary education and the integration of technology in the EU

All change at the top for System Concepts
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 3 July 2009
 
Leslie Fountain has been promoted to joint Managing Director of leading usability consultancy System Concepts.

Life in UCD immortalised in fiction: you couldn't make it up
Source: UN, 2 July 2009
 
Sarah Herman's fictitious book on life in a user-centred design company has hit the shelves and The Guardian's book pages...

Interfaces Magazine - Issue 79: The Education Issue
Source: Interaction Group, 1 July 2009
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available as a free download from the Interaction Website.

Two new Behavioural research Tools from Noldus
Source: UN, 30 June 2009
 
Tool updates make on-site behavioural data collection easier.

Cell Phones that Listen and Learn
Source: MIT Technology Review, 29 June 2009
 
New software tracks a user's behavior by monitoring everyday sounds.

Top Six Don’ts for Usability Testing
Source: FutureNow Inc., 27 June 2009
 
Six tips for creating quality usability tests to ensure useful feedback from testers.

Usability: ‘Lovely software. But I can’t work it’
Source: FT.com, 26 June 2009
 
In a recent survey by Global Graphics, 77 per cent of office workers estimate they lose up to one hour a week because business software is difficult to use.

And what do you do?
Source: Dexo Design, 25 June 2009
 
How do you describe your job role? Here are the results of a recent 'Preferred UX/UI Title' Poll.

Most Doctors cite Usability as critical to Electronic Health Record Adoption
Source: TMCNet, 24 June 2009
 
It's all about 'meaningful use'.

Glossy monitors look good but can hurt
Source: QUT, 23 June 2009
 
A new advisory cites research which suggests high gloss monitors make users sit awkwardly.