Gains in population health and innovation have resulted from a multilateral approach to problem-solving, writes Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and co-chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In this commentary, he makes the case for multilateralism and criticizes a recent trend in the US and in Europe toward nationalism.

Our newest survey report highlights steady overall application volumes as regional shifts in demand continue to shape the market. Read more at GMAC Advisor.

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Applications for MBA programs at The University of Chicago, Northwestern University and several other schools have declined this year, school data show. A bull market along with tightened US immigration policies are among the reasons for the trend, according to a study by the Graduate Management Admission Council.

US MBA programs with a STEM designation are seen as attractive to international students partly because of a benefit that allows them to apply for a work-visa extension after graduation.

The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business recently announced plans to overhaul its part-time professional MBA program next fall to include an online learning option. Officials say the approach, also adopted at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, is aimed at keeping students enrolled and reflecting the current state of the workforce.

As international enrollment at US colleges and universities declines, S&P Global Ratings last year downgraded more than twice as many college bonds than it upgraded, including the University of Central Missouri's. The drop in enrollment may be in part because of tighter immigration policies enacted by the Trump administration, say experts.

A Gallup poll shows that 48% of Americans say they have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education, down from 57% in 2015. The data show the widest gap was for Republicans with 39% expressing confidence in colleges and universities, a drop from 56% in 2015.

Dean Francois Ortalo-Magne, dean of London Business School, says he looks for students who demonstrate curiosity and a willingness to ask questions. Humility is another quality valued by Ortalo-Magne, along with a number of other business-school leaders.