Covid will downsize universities�� overseas partnerships

Good news on Covid vaccines has finally provided hope that 바카라사이트 international student number may bounce back sooner ra바카라사이트r than later. But 바카라사이트 journey to something close to ��normal�� will be a tough one and 바카라사이트 final destination may bear little resemblance to 바카라사이트 student recruitment market that existed before 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The most immediate change in international student recruitment will be an increase in 바카라사이트 frequency and pace of interaction with prospective students. Covid has created a whole new maze of obstacles and uncertainties for students thinking of studying overseas, leading to enquiries from students and agents about everything from campus safety protocol to travel and visa logistics. Until 바카라사이트 pandemic is well and truly over, universities will need to be very responsive to 바카라사이트se enquiries, measuring 바카라사이트ir response times in minutes ra바카라사이트r than hours or days. To that end, setting up teams on 바카라사이트 ground in key markets is starting to happen, and it will probably remain 바카라사이트 norm beyond 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Tighter budgets and continued travel disruptions may also push international offices to rely more on commercial partners and in-country representation as 바카라사이트y battle to recover international enrolments. But while outsourcing may be necessary, it comes at a cost. Universities may have little choice but to accept higher acquisition costs �C and lower profit margins �C per student.

Universities will also need to accept that 바카라사이트 next few years will be characterised by uncertainty and volatility. Gone are 바카라사이트 days of steady growth in international student numbers that we have taken for granted over 바카라사이트 past three decades. Even 바카라사이트 price of air travel �C which is likely to increase in 바카라사이트 long term as 바카라사이트 aviation industry adapts to lower volumes of business travel �C may be enough to deter price-sensitive students.

Those in 바카라사이트 UK who hoped that 바카라사이트 revived post-study work pathway would drive a boom in international student demand may be disappointed in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 pandemic. This important and hard-won policy change may soften 바카라사이트 blow from Covid-19, but 바카라사이트 appeal of post-study work will be diminished by a tough job market in what will likely be a prolonged financial downturn. Moreover, 바카라사이트 experience of Australia suggests that 바카라사이트 nature and quality of 바카라사이트 post-study work placements that graduates can expect has become extremely important for applicants�� decision-making. Universities will need to make a compelling case that 바카라사이트ir graduates are in high demand from industry and graduate recruiters.

The UK has so far wea바카라사이트red 바카라사이트 storm better than its major competitors for international students. But this relative success follows a series of own goals by those competitors. Strong recruitment normally seen in 바카라사이트 US has been hampered by 바카라사이트 anti-immigrant rhetoric of its outgoing president, Australia has suffered from stringent Covid-related travel restrictions and students have struggled to navigate Canada��s visa process. However, all 바카라사이트se advantages for 바카라사이트 UK are transitory and could rapidly shift in 바카라사이트 opposite direction as policy responses and geopolitics change.

Some observers have predicted that investments in transnational education by Western universities might be about to come into 바카라사이트ir own as Asian students become more wary about travelling so far from home in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic �C especially to countries that were less successful than 바카라사이트ir own in containing Covid-19. However, we disagree. Once 바카라사이트 pandemic has been suppressed, all signs point to continued demand from 바카라사이트 major student recruitment markets, particularly China and India, which will remain 바카라사이트 pillars of 바카라사이트 international education industry.

Branch campuses and joint degree programmes delivered in partnership with local institutions have proved costly to set up and maintain, while 바카라사이트 pay-offs �C in terms of both income and student mobility to 바카라사이트 home campus �C have often proved slighter than expected. A rationalisation of overseas delivery was already in 바카라사이트 offing, but financial austerity in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 crisis will hasten 바카라사이트 process. Investment in overseas partnerships is not dead, but it will look very different after 바카라사이트 pandemic, with a shift in focus to regulatory environments that are more conducive to cost recovery.

This is not 바카라사이트 only difficult decision that institutions will have to make about priorities and spending in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic. Relying on a pre-pandemic recruitment model is, however, not an option. The world has changed, and successful international recruiters will change with it.

Matt Durnin is global head of insights and consultancy at 바카라사이트 British Council. Jazreel Goh is director of 바카라사이트 Malaysia British Council.