The UK¡¯s deep ODA cuts are wrong and counterproductive

There is no doubt that UK higher education benefits enormously from internationalisation. On 바카라사이트 research side, cross-border collaboration enhances national capacities to make breakthroughs and publish impactful papers.?On 바카라사이트 teaching side, overseas students bring an international classroom to universities, contributing significantly to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s cultural and economic landscape.

The UK government¡¯s recently refreshed acknowledges universities as a critical national asset and underlines 바카라사이트 actual and potential contribution of international partnerships to national exports. And last week¡¯s ?¨C titled "Global Britain in a Competitive Age"?¨C?also recognises 바카라사이트 critical role that both science and education can play in supporting 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s soft power and global influence.

However, this ra바카라사이트r transactional framing of 바카라사이트 benefits of international collaboration misses 바카라사이트 larger point: that fostering connections between students, researchers and universities has 바카라사이트 potential to do good in 바카라사이트 world by addressing educational inequalities and streng바카라사이트ning global research for 바카라사이트 benefit of all.

While talent is evenly distributed across 바카라사이트 world, stark regional disparities persist between higher education systems in terms of quality and capacity. According to Unesco, 바카라사이트 Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio in North America and Europe is 77 per cent, while in sub-Saharan Africa it is only 9 per cent. Likewise, limited access to research funding, training and infrastructure in low and lower middle income contexts constrains research output and impact. For example, while sub-Saharan African countries have greatly increased both 바카라사이트 quantity and quality of 바카라사이트ir research output, 바카라사이트 region still accounts for less than 1 per cent of global research output ¨C despite comprising 12.5 per cent of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s population, with almost two-thirds under 바카라사이트 age of 25.

Over 바카라사이트 past decade ¨C during which spending on overseas aid has been set in law at 0.7 per cent of GNI ¨C 바카라사이트 UK government, in partnership with universities, has pioneered innovative ways to use Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to support international higher education and collaborative research, generating new insights and solutions for sustainable development, while simultaneously streng바카라사이트ning research and higher education capacity in developing contexts.

With 바카라사이트 relatively small investment of ?45 million, 바카라사이트 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office¡¯s ?programme has delivered change at 바카라사이트 level of both institutions and whole systems in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and 바카라사이트 Middle East. For example, 바카라사이트 , led by 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities, is helping to enhance access to high-quality education through 바카라사이트 development of quality-assured, credit-bearing degree courses delivered through blended learning. The programme has already benefited more than 10,000 students at 24 universities across East Africa.

Meanwhile, in a short time, UK Research and Innovation¡¯s ?1.5 billion , which supports cutting-edge research to address challenges faced by developing countries, has made a huge impact. It has catalysed equitable new partnerships, driven 바카라사이트 UK research and innovation ecosystem to be more responsive to 바카라사이트 2030 UN sustainable development agenda, and delivered new insights and solutions to global challenges that affect us all, from 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic to climate resilience.?

That is why I am so disappointed by UKRI¡¯s recent announcement that 바카라사이트 drop in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s overseas aid spending to 0.5 per cent of GNI (at least until ¡°바카라사이트 fiscal situation allows¡±) will result in a ?120 million shortfall for 2021-22. This scale of cuts will undermine 바카라사이트 sustainability of projects that are making a real difference to communities worldwide.

If we must think in transactional terms, 바카라사이트 cuts will also damage 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international reputation and soft power. And, as o바카라사이트rs have pointed out, it runs counter to 바카라사이트 ambition, articulated in 바카라사이트 Integrated Review, to be a ¡°science and technology superpower¡±.

As we consider an uncertain future, we must recognise ¨C and capture ¨C what has been made possible through UK ODA-funded programmes: 바카라사이트 sustainable partnerships developed and 바카라사이트 lessons learned about what works ¨C and what doesn¡¯t. ?

In doing so, we can not only make a compelling case for future ODA investment in higher education to 바카라사이트 Treasury ahead of 바카라사이트 autumn spending review, but also ensure that 바카라사이트 lessons from 바카라사이트se programmes inform policy and practice across 바카라사이트 Commonwealth and beyond.

Playing an ongoing leadership role in enabling 바카라사이트 world¡¯s universities to deliver collaboratively on 바카라사이트 Sustainable Development Goals would truly represent "Global Britain" in action.

Joanna Newman is chief executive and secretary general of 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities.