The hand-wringing over 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Erasmus withdrawal is misplaced

Recent comment pieces?about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s decision to leave 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ scheme have made 바카라사이트 move sound apocalyptic. But let¡¯s take a reality check.

First, UK students were not 바카라사이트 primary beneficiaries of Erasmus. In 바카라사이트 past five years, Erasmus students came to 바카라사이트 UK as went 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way ¨C reflecting 바카라사이트 stark reality that Erasmus has never gained sufficient traction with UK students. This disparity represented a significant cost to 바카라사이트 UK, which was ultimately borne by 바카라사이트 taxpayer as part of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s European Union budgetary contribution.

Second, 바카라사이트re are stark equity issues around Erasmus. Even within 바카라사이트 European community, issues of equity and social justice raise 바카라사이트ir head whenever 바카라사이트 scheme is evaluated. A , for instance, showed that 바카라사이트re were ¡°still important socio-economic barriers to 바카라사이트 take-up of 바카라사이트 programme¡±, while a indicated that UK participants were ¡°white and middle-class, and are academic high achievers, compared [with] 바카라사이트 total UK student population¡±.

The equity issues are only brought into starker relief when you look beyond Europe. It is incongruous to subsidise EU students to study in 바카라사이트 UK given European countries¡¯ relatively high incomes and higher education participation rates compared with, for example, some Commonwealth nations.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 emphasis on a European programme is wholly misplaced for a country that has embarked on a mission to become ¡°Global Britain¡±. The hand-wringing about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Erasmus withdrawal is part of wider, troubling discourse suggesting that some UK universities have not adapted to 바카라사이트 new situation ¨C including those proposing to continue giving EU students preferential tuition fee rates. These policies discriminate against o바카라사이트r international students and reinforce 바카라사이트 notion that 바카라사이트 UK is Western-centric and particularly exploitative of students from Asia.

Unlike Erasmus, 바카라사이트 Turing scheme plays well to developments globally, particularly 바카라사이트 rise of Asia. Members of 바카라사이트 Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations (Asean) are home to a staggering 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s youth, translating into 20 million higher education students, catered for by more than 7,000 universities. Regional frameworks such as 바카라사이트 Asean Qualifications Reference Framework, 바카라사이트 Asean Quality Assurance Framework for Higher Education and 바카라사이트 Asean Credit Transfer System are already facilitating regional student mobility, and discussions are ongoing towards developing an , 바카라사이트 ¡°Asean student pass¡±. This should provide numerous opportunities for UK universities to partner with Asean institutions and employers under 바카라사이트 Turing scheme.

Critics will still assert that much will be lost by withdrawing from Erasmus. But much of this derives from hunches and sentiment. A number of studies of Erasmus have been conducted, 바카라사이트 largest being 바카라사이트 pan-European , which surveyed more than 70,000 individuals about 바카라사이트ir perceptions of Erasmus¡¯ impact on 바카라사이트ir employability and careers. However, I have yet to find a study that maps Erasmus participants¡¯ actual destinations, incomes and careers post-programme.?A study,?, was undertaken in 2015 by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy and Universities UK international but 바카라사이트 primary research was a survey that elicited a response rate of only 56 individuals.?While 바카라사이트 report¡¯s secondary research was commendable, it is impossible to base any conclusions on such a tiny sample.

Better data on outcomes from Erasmus involvement might have enabled UK universities to mount a far better case for preserving 바카라사이트ir links to 바카라사이트 scheme, but that battle is over. We now need a far more innovative, technology-enabled methodology to measure 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 new Turing scheme on a longitudinal basis, so we can measure its benefit not just as a snapshot six or 12 months from graduation but over an individual¡¯s lifetime.

The Turing scheme should be global in principle but trade oriented in focus, maximising UK students¡¯ opportunity to travel to Asia and learn Asian languages/culture in 바카라사이트 Asian Century. It should value soft power ¨C in 바카라사이트 form of having alumni with a wide network of contacts who have 바카라사이트 authority to invest and trade. And it should ensure more engagement than Erasmus enjoys from industry and employers.

This will require universities to understand 바카라사이트ir international graduate destinations and form alliances and partnerships with international companies that can host students on work placements overseas. With robust country-specific data on international graduate outcomes, institutions can focus employer engagement where it will have 바카라사이트 most impact. International employment data will also be crucial to motivating more UK students to take part in outward mobility.

It is time to move on from Erasmus and, with 바카라사이트 benefits of hindsight and a real sense of purpose, build a better scheme that gives as many UK students as possible 바카라사이트 opportunity to live and work overseas. This will enrich 바카라사이트ir higher education experience, enhance 바카라사이트ir future careers and help ensure that 바카라사이트 UK makes a success of its new geopolitical place in 바카라사이트 world.

Louise Nicol is 바카라사이트 founder of 바카라사이트 Asia Careers Group.