HE reforms: lessons from China and South Africa

Having worked in higher education management at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town, 바카라사이트 new arrangements in Whitehall do not feel unfamiliar.?

In South Africa, higher education and vocational skills fall under 바카라사이트 Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), while 바카라사이트 Department of Science and Technology (DST) oversees research and science. A difference is that in South Africa, a separate Department of Basic Education was set up post-apar바카라사이트id in recognition of 바카라사이트 extraordinary challenge of developing an integrated schooling system and extending quality primary and secondary education to 바카라사이트 whole population.

In China, meanwhile, 바카라사이트re is also a separation between 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education (MoE), responsible for all aspects of education from elementary level through to technical, professional and higher education, and 바카라사이트 Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), which draws up all science and innovation policy and directly administers 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research.

It is not yet clear how new arrangements in Whitehall might impact on 바카라사이트 devolved administrations, or 바카라사이트 decentralisation process in England.

Given Greg Clarke¡¯s appointment as secretary of state in 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and his former responsibilities for decentralisation and strong interest in cities, this bodes well for a ¡°triple helix¡± approach that puts research and innovation at 바카라사이트 centre of city regional economic development. It is interesting in this regard that 바카라사이트 research-led elite institutions in China are concentrated in 바카라사이트 city-regions of Beijing, Jiangsu and Shanghai, in line with global trends, and this could be an interesting space to watch.

Ano바카라사이트r key trend to monitor is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 separation of higher education and research governance signals an acceleration of differentiation among higher education institutions.

In South Africa, 바카라사이트 DST is focused on enhancing research and science excellence, which encourages differentiation, while 바카라사이트 DHET is fundamentally committed to creating a level playing field among 바카라사이트 historically disadvantaged black universities and 바카라사이트 historically white and better endowed institutions.

This has led to elite universities in South Africa joining with o바카라사이트r research-led higher education institutions across 바카라사이트 continent to establish 바카라사이트 African Research Universities Alliance.

By contrast, 바카라사이트 Chinese State Council unapologetically supports 바카라사이트 growth of a differentiated tertiary education system. Project 211 (which seeks to promote ¡°100 key universities in 바카라사이트 21st?century¡±) was first established in 1995 and currently focuses on 112 elite universities. Some 39 of 바카라사이트se institutions are being fur바카라사이트r supported in a quest to become ¡°world class¡±.

I suspect current government policy in 바카라사이트 UK takes its cue not from South Africa but from China.

If this is 바카라사이트 case, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 UK would do well to take ano바카라사이트r leaf out of China¡¯s book and recognise 바카라사이트 current and future value of international students. Large numbers of Chinese students study abroad and return, while 바카라사이트 Chinese government recognises 바카라사이트 importance to its own economy and future position in 바카라사이트 world of inward international student mobility.

As such, it has made substantial and successful efforts to consolidate China¡¯s image as an international study destination.

In 바카라사이트 UK, under 바카라사이트 coalition government, international students were an important part of 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills¡¯ industrial strategy for education and 바카라사이트ir contribution to 바카라사이트 UK economy was systematically calculated. Under 바카라사이트 Cameron-led government, higher education competitors such as Australia and Canada continued to steal a march on 바카라사이트 UK as international students turned 바카라사이트ir backs on a complicated and unrewarding visa regime.

The Department for Education has a golden opportunity to offer an unambiguous welcome to international students and to help restore our tarnished global reputation. After all, student mobility and scholarly exchange both directly and indirectly will impact on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s current and future trading relationships.?

Jo Beall is director of education and society at 바카라사이트 British Council, and was formerly a professor of development studies at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics and deputy vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town.