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The article reports on the response of U.S. graduate schools to the three-year undergraduate degrees being established in Europe under the Bologna Process, aimed at creating a standardized European Higher Education Area. The results of a survey by the Institute of International Education into the proportion of U.S. graduate programs that accept the degrees as equivalent to four-year degrees from the United States are discussed.

The article presents news briefs on issues related to higher education. John Rist, chairman of the department of classics at Aberdeen University in Scotland, has resigned due to budget cuts to the university. A collection of rare papers from fascist dictator Benito Mussolini has been returned by Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut to the government of Italy. Archeology professor Yigal Shiloh of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem has been awarded by Sweden's Göteborg University for his research.

The article explores ways in which European universities are being impacted by government austerity measures, or efforts to reduce public spending, due to the global financial crisis that began in 2008. Particular emphasis is given to increased tuition costs, reductions in services offered to students, and the elimination of job opportunities for college professors that have resulted from such higher education budget cuts. It also examines youth unemployment in Spain, comments on the increased government regulations of higher education in Portugal, and describes the financial instability of academic libraries in Spain.

The article discusses foreign study by U.S. students in Asia, noting that most students who choose foreign study go to Europe, except for those of Asian heritage who may be familiar with an Asian culture and language. It notes that faculty members are a key factor in students' decisions, often guiding students towards institutions where they have research relationships. It also notes that many Asian universities, particularly those in China, are focused inward on building their departments and serving the native population. Thus simple factors such as posting syllabi online are not priorities. Therefore, it states, increasing foreign study in Asia requires efforts by both U.S. and Asian schools.

The article discusses the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education, which was created in March 2008. The 46 countries involved in the process seek to improve the quality and assessment of higher education throughout Europe, thus facilitating students' mobility among institutions and countries and enhancing international use of courses and degrees from the participating countries. According to the author, the register is a good idea, but participants face problems because of the vast differences in government standards for higher-education oversight between member states.