The Higher Education 2020 Newsletter aims to keep the sector and stakeholders informed about the Australian Government’s higher education policies and programs.��The current issue includes news on the Budget 2009-10, Indigenous Staff Scholarships and other various updates. DEEWR, May 2009

Gadgets such as the Apple iPhone and the iPod Touch are mainstays on college campuses – largely for the devices’ ability to help students escape the pressures of the classroom. Now the oldest U.S. journalism school is asking students to buy those or similar devices to download classroom lectures or confirm facts on the Web while reporting from the scene of a plane crash or town council meeting. USA Today, May 2009

The Government’s changes to student income support, announced in the Budget last week, will help to ensure public funding is targeted at those most in need, according to the Group of Eight. Analysis of the 2009 Budget reveals that the changes to parental income tests and the treatment of equity scholarships will increase the number of low income students eligible for Youth Allowance and financial support from universities and private philanthropy. Go8 Media release, 21 May 2009

The debate about open access in scholarly communication is an important opportunity for the international library and publishing communities to explore how technology and new business models can resolve the challenge of growing scholarly publishing output which puts pressure on publisher prices and library resources. IFLA and IPA welcome the widespread attention this extremely important issue has received. IFLA/IPA Joint statement 20 May 2009