Australian universities may need to shed thousands of staff because a surge in the nation's currency has eroded demand for education from foreign students, Monash University's vice-chancellor Ed Byrne says in a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The university is considering setting schools fees in yuan to help smooth currency fluctuations. But with Hong Kong's universities offering salary packages of up to HK$200,000 a month, Hong Kong may soon see more Australian academics. Bloomberg  

Taiwan graduates have low job expectations

The latest online survey by Taiwan's Council of Labor Affairs suggests most new graduates have low expectations for their first job, Taipei Times reports. The survey of 1,925 graduates, from June to August, reveals 39 per cent of respondents saying the lowest salary they will accept is the minimum wage - NT$17,280 (HK$4,350) per month. Nearly half feel they can land a job within two weeks of starting their search, while 43 per cent think they can secure a position after only 10 resumes.

Best time to get ahead is after lunch

If you want a promotion, better wait for the boss to finish his lunch dessert and coffee. According to a poll of more than 1,000 people in Britain, the best time to ask for a promotion is at 1pm rather than at the beginning of the day, reports the Daily Telegraph. About 86 per cent of the 1,019 people surveyed by Bayer Schering Pharma say they are aware of regular peaks and troughs in their mood.