International News - Around the World in Higher Education and Research, by News Tank Academic - Nr.27

Harvard graduate student workers have ended a 40-day strike without a contract ; Canada has slipped slightly in global university rankings amid calls for careful interpretation ; Students in New Zealand are protesting the scrapping of fees-free study ; Singapore will require all university, polytechnic and ITE students to learn AI skills from 2027.

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

Headline News

Harvard graduate student workers conclude 40-day strike without finalising a contract

Harvard’s graduate student workers ended a 40-day strike - their longest - without securing a contract, but will resume negotiations on 09/06/2026 and 23/06/2026. The Harvard Graduate Student Union said the decision followed signs of greater engagement from the university, particularly on pay parity, protections for international workers and anti-discrimination measures.

Talks have been ongoing for 14 months, with Harvard offering some…