Higher Ed Rankings: Boston College climbed to No. 21 on LinkedIn’s 2026 list of best colleges for long-term success, citing strong outcomes tied to internships, community service, and research. Sports + Education: Nigeria launched the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), creating sports centers of excellence at tertiary institutions to pair elite athletics with recognized qualifications. Health Workforce: Butler University will open a new four-year BS in Respiratory Therapy in fall 2027 to tackle Indiana’s therapist shortage, with 1,000+ hours of clinical training. AI Research Funding: The University of Minnesota won U.S. DOE Genesis Mission awards to integrate AI into energy and national-security discovery workflows. Student Support: Fontana Unified School District schools earned national ASCA RAMP recognition for counseling programs that boost student connection and well-being. University Autonomy: Gujarat University became the first in its state to receive UGC Category II graded autonomy, enabling faster program and research expansion. Campus Safety: CrimeStoppers and Alabama State University ran regional school-safety training to strengthen partnerships, emergency planning, and student engagement. International Education: Oxford International Digital Institute partnered with NACC to expand English and academic-skill programs across 150 career colleges in Canada. Language Policy: Malaysia’s push to strengthen Bahasa Melayu quality—especially avoiding “bahasa rojak”—was highlighted as a national agenda involving higher education and the private sector.