International News - Around the World in Higher Education and Research, by News Tank Academic - Nr.17

India introduces new mental health guidelines as student suicides rise; students in New Zealand struggle to pay rent and buy food due to delayed loans; Türkiye considers lowering the university starting age to 15-16, the United States proposes classifying Chinese student groups as "foreign missions"; and Australian universities face increasingly precarious finances.

Welcome to the new edition of News Tank Academic's roundup of international news. Every week, we will bring you a selection of some of the most important developments in higher education from around the world.

Headline News

India introduces mental health guidelines amid rising student suicides

India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued new guidelines urging universities to prioritise student mental health amid rising student suicides, which accounted for over 13,000 deaths in 2023 - roughly 36 per day - and represent about 8% of all suicides. Institutions are expected to integrate psychological support, emotional well-being and physical fitness into core activities, with counselling services, wellness…