Times of India

College admissions are evolving beyond GPAs, test scores, and essays, with self-recorded video introductions emerging as a powerful tool to showcase personality and communication skills. Amid rising AI-assisted essays, universities like Brown, Duke, and Vanderbilt are embracing videos to gain authentic insights. Mastery of on-camera presence is now essential, both for admissions and future professional success.

Two years after the Supreme Court banned affirmative action, elite colleges are witnessing a sharp decline in Black student enrollment, with some campuses reporting as little as 2% of incoming classes. The drop threatens decades of progress, narrowing access to leadership pathways, reducing campus diversity, and raising urgent questions about equity, opportunity, and the future of inclusive higher education.

Syracuse University has declined to sign President Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence" in its current form, citing concerns over potential constraints on academic freedom. While acknowledging some positive aspects, the university emphasizes the need for community consultation before any formal agreement. This decision highlights ongoing debates about federal influence on higher education and institutional autonomy.

America’s leading universities are rejecting the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence, warning it threatens academic freedom, merit-based research, and institutional independence. Critics argue the pact’s mandates — including ideological neutrality, restrictions on transgender rights, and caps on international students — risk politicizing scholarship and eroding the nation’s global leadership in science and innovation, as MIT, Brown, Penn, USC, and others have publicly stated.

Steve Jobs challenged Corning CEO Wendell Weeks to scale Gorilla Glass production for the iPhone, overcoming Weeks' fear by focusing on the company and its workers. This pivotal moment highlights lessons in courage, teamwork, embracing challenges, long-term vision, and service-oriented leadership for students and young professionals.

The Texas Education Agency is taking over Fort Worth Independent School District. An elected board will be replaced by a state-appointed board of managers. This action follows years of poor academic performance at several district schools. The agency aims to improve student outcomes and governance. Fort Worth ISD has over 70,000 students, with many at risk of dropping out.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing how Americans are paid, shaping salary hikes, bonuses, and performance reviews with data-driven precision. A Resume Now report finds 56% of US workers see AI’s role in pay as already larger than three years ago, with 63% expecting growth. While AI can enhance fairness and trust, human oversight and transparency remain essential to ensure context and equity in compensation decisions.

Harvard College's new student intake shows fewer Black and Hispanic students. This trend continues after the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action. Asian American enrollment has increased. Other universities like Yale and Princeton also report similar shifts. Harvard's acceptance rate rose as applications decreased. International student numbers also saw a dip.

An AI grading error affected about 1,400 Massachusetts MCAS essays after a technical glitch in the AI scoring system used by DESE and Cognia. The issue was uncovered by a Lowell teacher who noticed unusual scores. DESE rescored affected essays and notified 145 districts. The incident underscores the need for human oversight in AI-driven education assessments.

The University of Virginia struck a deal with the Trump administration to end a federal investigation into its admissions and diversity policies. The agreement, which avoids fines and outside monitoring, requires UVa to align with the administration’s strict interpretation of the Supreme Court’s race admissions ruling, trading autonomy concessions for halted probes and continued research funding access.

US President Donald Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the Chinese-born Canadian founder of Binance, following his conviction for money laundering. Zhao, a McGill University graduate and influential figure in global finance, served four months in prison. Despite legal setbacks, he remains a key voice in the cryptocurrency world, advising governments on blockchain and digital asset development.

Turning Point USA’s “Professor Watchlist,” which names academics accused of leftist bias, has reignited debate after founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Critics at the University of Michigan say it chills free expression and disproportionately harms marginalised faculty. While TPUSA claims it helps students choose courses, professors argue it promotes intimidation over open academic debate.

More than 60,000 teachers across New Zealand joined a nationwide “mega strike” on 23 October 2025, protesting low pay, heavy workloads, and staff shortages. Despite government offers of a 1-2.7% pay rise, unions rejected the deals as below inflation. Teachers demand better conditions, support staff, and funding to address burnout, retention issues, and student learning needs.

CSIR UGC NET December 2025 registration closes tomorrow, October 24, on csirnet.nta.nic.in. Candidates can apply online, pay fees (₹300-₹1,150), and edit applications during the correction window (Oct 27-29). The exam, in CBT mode, will be held on December 18, 2025, in two shifts. Admit cards and city slips will be released closer to the test date.

Harvard College’s Class of 2029 shows a sharp demographic shift, with Black and Hispanic enrolment falling and Asian American representation rising to 41 per cent. The decline follows the Supreme Court’s ban on race-conscious admissions and the return of standardised testing. Despite fewer applications, Harvard’s yield rate and financial aid commitments remain strong.

AI PCs and data dashboards are transforming teaching from instinct-driven to insight-driven practice. By analysing learning patterns, giving quick feedback, and spotting disengagement early, teachers can personalise instruction and make classrooms more inclusive. Used ethically, AI tools support evidence-based planning, fair grouping, and transparent data use, enhancing human judgement, not replacing it.

The Trump administration’s decision to ease the $100,000 H-1B visa fee brings relief to thousands of Indian professionals and students already in the US. However, a new cap limiting foreign students to 15% of total university admissions, with no more than 5% from any one country, casts uncertainty over future Indian enrolments and America’s talent inflow.

IIM Ahmedabad has entered the global top 50 in the 2026 QS International Trade Rankings, securing 32nd place for its MBA, while IIM Calcutta ranks 8th globally in the Executive MBA category. Led by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School, the rankings highlight India’s rising prominence in international trade education, with IIFT also featuring among top global programmes.

Despite widespread access to paid vacation, nearly a quarter of US workers did not take a single day off last year, FlexJobs reports. Heavy workloads, fear of falling behind, and insufficient PTO leave employees trapped in a cycle of constant work. Experts warn that cultural and structural reforms are essential to make rest a viable, sustainable priority.

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has opened registrations for its MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics) programmes for the 2026-2028 batch at iift.ac.in. Candidates can apply until November 28, 2025. Admission will be based on CAT 2025 scores, followed by group discussions and interviews across major cities.