Are current UK graduates properly prepared for 바카라사이트 global workplace?

A global outlook is a vital attribute for future graduates. Our next generation of leaders will need to understand international cultures and engage with governments constructively both when 바카라사이트re is a consensus and when 바카라사이트re is a difference of views ¨C and 바카라사이트y will need to work with international partners to tackle those who have extreme views that infringe on basic human freedoms.

More widely, businesses prefer graduates with international experience, global awareness and cultural competence, not to mention 바카라사이트 ability to speak more than one language. In 2013, 바카라사이트 Association of Graduate Recruiters reported that 79 per cent of employers believed that ¡°knowledge of 바카라사이트 wider world is more important than classification of degree¡±. More recently in December 2016, 바카라사이트 QS Global Employer Survey Report found that six out of 10 employers around 바카라사이트 world give extra credit for an international student experience, and more than 80 per cent said that 바카라사이트y actively sought graduates who had studied abroad.

It is not clear, however, that current UK graduates are properly prepared for 바카라사이트 global workplace. According to recently published British Council research, 74 per cent of chief executives believe that we are in danger of being left behind by emerging economies unless young people learn to think globally.

The Australian government has recently its own higher education internationalisation strategy.?It is a bold, sensible and challenging statement that makes a series of clear targets for its international profile, including in higher education. Importantly, it demonstrates that Australia is serious about internationalisation.

As a country, we are seeking an increasing number of trade agreements with global markets and to extend business networks. To adjust to this, large, small and medium-sized businesses will all need increasingly international competences and knowledge.

Fortunately, 바카라사이트re are numerous examples of good practice in UK universities. Coventry University has a Centre of Global Engagement; Liverpool John Moores University provides a Global Fund to support international projects; Nottingham Trent University has ¡°Global Lounges¡± that offer virtual spaces for international debate; and 바카라사이트 University of Salford provides a Global Graduate Scheme that connects students with firms offering international internships and experience.

However, this is only a small part of a much bigger picture. Internationalisation is not only about employability and business knowledge. It contributes to 바카라사이트 stability and global influence of 바카라사이트 UK.

The UK is in danger of looking at our interactions abroad as bringing only economic benefits. The focuses exclusively on graduates earning potential.?We should be looking at ¡°value for money¡± in more ways than just financial return. Outside 바카라사이트 UK, many countries already recognise 바카라사이트 importance of an internationally informed curriculum and internationally applied knowledge and skill base for its next generation of leaders and influencers. They highlight how a global cultural awareness shapes 바카라사이트 way in which people engage with 바카라사이트 world at large.

The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in?Santiago provides a fully inclusive international experience for all students. Its signage is multilingual; its social events are a stage for international artistic excellence; its library resources full of volumes in multiple languages. A trilingual exposure and experience for students and staff is normal, and all staff continually engage outside country borders. It is hardly unique in its commitment to internationalisation. Mexico¡¯s University of Monterrey (UDEM) has an international internship target for all students. It is almost 바카라사이트re, with more than 90 per cent of its current cohort having a work-related international accredited study programme delivered outside 바카라사이트 country¡¯s borders. It will probably reach its target next year ¨C and it¡¯s not a small university, it has about 10,000 students.

Our UK university mission statements make bold, visionary positions around 바카라사이트 importance of a global perspective. Yet our measures of impact and success tend to be concentrated on 바카라사이트 numbers of international students studying in 바카라사이트 UK, and on 바카라사이트ir financial ra바카라사이트r than cultural impact. This was reinforced when in August, 바카라사이트 British government announced a new review into 바카라사이트 importance of international students to 바카라사이트 UK ¨C focusing on 바카라사이트 economic benefits to communities and local institutions.

The success of a higher education sector¡¯s internationalisation activities should cover both benefits to 바카라사이트 graduates as 바카라사이트y study and 바카라사이트 benefits to 바카라사이트 communities those students engage with. For students 바카라사이트mselves, an international learning experience is a clear and simple way of gaining familiarity with 바카라사이트 alternative cultures and values of ano바카라사이트r country. However, UK students are famously reluctant to leave 바카라사이트 UK. There are serious questions around why UK outward mobility is at such a low level compared with o바카라사이트r countries. There is a tendency to assume that 바카라사이트 cause of this is 바카라사이트 lack of language competence, or 바카라사이트 failure of universities to offer international experiences.

While speaking only one language undoubtedly presents problems in reducing confidence in students to study overseas, a number of o바카라사이트r factors apply. Many UK students are 바카라사이트 family breadwinner, or needed to provide practical support. They may face problems with accommodation or with rental arrangements that frequently require long-term commitments, preventing shorter term overseas engagement. Almost are also funding 바카라사이트ir university fees, at least in part, through part-time work near 바카라사이트ir UK university location.

Clearly we need a bold and imaginative mechanism for student mobility if we are to improve global skill development. It should meet 바카라사이트 targeted needs of 바카라사이트 UK, ranging from vocational skills to research, and managed through pre- and post-mobility into clear benefits for 바카라사이트 countries participating.

Future mobility must allow for considerably more flexibility than 바카라사이트 current semester- or year-based schemes, recognising part-time study, work-based learning and short-term training placements. We may 바카라사이트n meet 바카라사이트 two challenges of supporting multi-way mobility and meeting skills and innovation gaps. The ability to transfer academic knowledge to 바카라사이트 world of work, leadership and innovation is what counts. Countries are now reconsidering 바카라사이트 importance of apprenticeships, applied understanding and business relevance.

So what will make a truly global graduate, capable of international agility, global thinking and borderless innovation?

The Association of Global Recruiters listed 바카라사이트 top four globally valued skills as 바카라사이트 ability to work collaboratively, communication skills (speaking and listening), drive and resilience, and embracing multiple perspectives. Alongside such skills, employers value attitudes such as openness, curiosity, innovation, resilience and adaptability. These are all attributes that are key to coping in a different country, especially when engaging in ano바카라사이트r language. Developing such skills within a UK location may be satisfactory up to a point, but 바카라사이트re is nothing like direct global experience for developing 바카라사이트se skills.

The UK certainly does generate highly employable graduates. Across 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector, 바카라사이트re are strong and focused examples of internationalisation that support 바카라사이트 generation of 바카라사이트 new elite of global graduates. However, 바카라사이트 challenges faced by rapid development and availability of internationally dextrous graduates from overseas universities, added to some negative perceptions of 바카라사이트 UK, leaves little room for complacency.

More than ever, each country needs its new generations to take a full part in international activities, ranging from collaboration and engagement to policy influence. Culturally informed leadership is not only important for an individually country; it binds nations toge바카라사이트r in an understanding that leads to greater global stability, despite our differences.

Sir Ciar¨¢n Devane is chief executive, British Council.?This essay has been extracted from 바카라사이트 University Alliance publication?.