China's education ministry has been scrapping Soviet-style curricula found in its traditional vocational colleges, pushing the creation of more-relevant majors, and encouraging students to select vocational degrees over four-year universities. Over the past decade, the ministry has turned to countries like Australia, Germany, Canada, and, most…

Education Department officials closely followed the wishes of Congress when issuing new rules for a highly regarded Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education grant competition. Last year, after Congress directed agency officials to give grants in 18 specified "subject areas," and also suggested recipients, it was criticized for…

A small, well-regarded Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program that finances innovations in higher education has resisted a push by Congress to influence which institutions should receive grants. Its new round of awards includes only one of 11 institutions suggested by Congress. (MSE)