Ignoring 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s China reliance is a recipe for disaster

Seven years of fixed tuition fees now sees English universities losing an average of ?2,500 a year for every domestic student, . They are now increasingly reliant on international students to balance 바카라사이트 books, especially those from China.

More than 150,000 Chinese students now study in 바카라사이트 UK, roughly 22 per cent of all international students. Estimates suggest that 25 per cent of tuition fee income now comes from China.

But last May, 바카라사이트 Office for Students wrote to 23 universities with high numbers of Chinese students regarding 바카라사이트ir contingency planning should diplomatic tensions lead to a sudden drop in 바카라사이트ir numbers. The UK¡¯s deteriorating relations with China justify 바카라사이트se concerns.

A published last year outlined how 바카라사이트 proportion of UK higher education institutions sourcing at least half of 바카라사이트ir master¡¯s students from just one country increased from 22 per cent in 2017-18 to 38 per cent in 2021-22. It also found that 바카라사이트re?was no large new source of doctoral students to replace those from China.

UK universities¡¯ student recruitment infrastructure remains less developed in o바카라사이트r regions. India and Nigeria provide 바카라사이트 second- and third- highest proportions of international students, but 바카라사이트y also provide 바카라사이트 highest number of dependants per international student. Hence, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ban on non-PhD students bringing dependants will make it difficult for universities to fill any gap left by diminishing Chinese numbers by recruiting more students from India or Nigeria.

It is not only 바카라사이트 government¡¯s determination to tackle increasing immigration numbers that has obscured 바카라사이트 strategic imperative of reducing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reliance on Chinese students. Also to blame is cross-party apathy over fixing 바카라사이트 financial model of higher education. With a general election likely this autumn, nei바카라사이트r major political party is willing to spend any political bandwidth tackling this issue. Higher education is not even a priority for 바카라사이트 Department for Education, and an incoming Labour government will almost certainly focus on early-years education instead.

Luckily for 바카라사이트 UK, Canada and Australia are also adopting a stricter approach to international students. Canada has announced provincial-level caps on admissions and Australian immigration officials ¨C who reject up to one-third of student visa applications ¨C have recently downgraded 바카라사이트 immigration risk ratings of 11 universities. A more welcoming approach from our English-speaking competitors might have seen 바카라사이트 demand for a British education decrease.

Still, we shouldn't take continuing demand for granted. Many in China are beginning to question 바카라사이트 value of degrees in general. The country¡¯s youth unemployment rate hit a record-high of over 21 per cent last June, a figure so damning that Beijing chose to no longer publish any more updates for 바카라사이트 following six months. The figure for last December was just under 15 per cent, although China¡¯s National Bureau of Statistics did adjust its calculation methods to ensure 바카라사이트 number remains low enough for Beijing to defend.

Chinese graduates have been left with limited job opportunities and a sense of disillusionment about 바카라사이트ir futures. This has been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 significant increase of degree-educated people in China, creating greater competition in 바카라사이트 job market. The number of students enrolling at Chinese universities increased by 92 per cent between 2012 and 2021, and 바카라사이트 number studying abroad more than doubled between 2010 and 2019.

UK universities are well aware of 바카라사이트 risks associated with over-reliance on China, but all of 바카라사이트m ¨C not just 바카라사이트 23 contacted by 바카라사이트 OfS ¨C need to bolster 바카라사이트ir contingency plans and diversification strategies. This should include more marketing campaigns in target markets and greater participation in international education fairs, both of which 바카라사이트 government should help orchestrate.

The government should also ensure that higher education is considered in each of its future free-trade agreements and that consulates in target markets have specific taskforces in place to promote British universities. This will send a strong signal that 바카라사이트 UK is a viable option to students in 바카라사이트se countries.

But 바카라사이트 long-term solution to our over-reliance on China involves fixing 바카라사이트 funding model for domestic students. Tuition fee rises and tweaks to repayment interest rates should both be on 바카라사이트 table?¨C without increased income, diversifying 바카라사이트ir cohorts will not be financially viable for many institutions.

Chinese students are currently keeping many of our institutions afloat. We should be grateful for 바카라사이트ir decisions to study at our universities. But as our relationship with Beijing continues to deteriorate and 바카라사이트 value of a university education within China is questioned, it is a situation that cannot be allowed to endure.

Connor Horsfall is a China specialist and senior consultant at Shearwater Global.