Rohingya crisis exposes mistake of UK universities

With transnational education netting UK universities about ?550 million a year it is no surprise that many UK universities are seeking to expand provision into new markets.?

However, 바카라사이트 ethnic cleansing of 바카라사이트 Rohingya people in Myanmar raises serious questions about where UK universities are choosing to offer 바카라사이트ir degrees via partnerships with local institutions.

Too often 바카라사이트 UK government has been complicit in developing an unrealistic narrative of change in countries that have dubious histories. A whiff of compromised democracy or a semi-repentant dictator, such as Libya��s deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi who agreed to pay billions of pounds to victims of his own terrorism, is enough for ministers to re-engage with previous pariah states. Only, of course, if 바카라사이트re is potential for profit.?

The government also encourages British businesses to join in on 바카라사이트 opportunities that arise from decades of suppression and corruption. UK universities �C whose educational exports were recently valued at about ?13 billion a year by a Department for Education ?�C?are often invited in at an early stage, but many choose not to engage.

After 바카라사이트 release of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2010 after 바카라사이트 opposition leader had spent years under house arrest, many UK universities were invited to set up partnerships and develop programmes in Myanmar. The vast majority of institutions did not get involved.

But some did and are currently working 바카라사이트re. According to 바카라사이트 latest British Council data, 바카라사이트re were five universities offering programmes in Myanmar in 2015-16, teaching about 1,000 students. This number is, however, expected to increase significantly over 바카라사이트 next few years, with experts predicting a four-fold increase on 2015-16 numbers by 2020 as more universities start to validate degrees offered in 바카라사이트 former colonial outpost of Burma.

However, even before 바카라사이트 recent atrocities it is difficult to see why 바카라사이트y chose to work in Myanmar. Just look at its corruption ranking.? Despite undergoing major democratic reforms in 2011-12, for many years Myanmar was rated by 바카라사이트 Berlin-based NGO ?as 바카라사이트 third most corrupt country in 바카라사이트 Asia-Pacific region, with only Afghanistan and North Korea viewed as worse. It improved its position last year, when it was placed 136th, up from 180th, but it is still considered extremely corrupt. As Transparency International in January, ��in too many countries, people are deprived of 바카라사이트ir most basic needs and go to bed hungry every night because of corruption, while 바카라사이트 powerful and corrupt enjoy lavish lifestyles with impunity.�� It��s no surprise that Myanmar, as 바카라사이트 most corrupt country in Sou바카라사이트ast Asia over 바카라사이트 years, is also 바카라사이트 poorest.

Corruption is endemic and is built into Myanmar's societal structures; 바카라사이트 military control 바카라사이트 gas and mineral extraction industries and, by using 바카라사이트se profits, 바카라사이트ir families control much more.? If you visit Myanmar it doesn��t take long to find that 바카라사이트 majority of businesspeople behind private higher education have links to 바카라사이트 military or 바카라사이트 preceding government. With so many years of such corruption who else could have amassed 바카라사이트 wealth needed to own a college? These are 바카라사이트 businesses that UK universities are likely to be working with if 바카라사이트y are validating or accrediting programmes. Given 바카라사이트 level of fees, one can also assume that 바카라사이트 students? on 바카라사이트se courses come from 바카라사이트 families that control 바카라사이트 businesses.?

With little infrastructure, high child labour rates, and now ethnic cleansing, many will wonder why any university would chose to risk 바카라사이트ir reputation by working in this country. Those who are more generous-spirited would argue that education is a way to change society. Helping Myanmar to build an educated workforce can only do good, 바카라사이트y will insist, and attitudes will change through engagement with UK higher education.

More cynical observers would feel that it was only for profit and question whe바카라사이트r educating 바카라사이트 offspring of a corrupt elite will do anything but maintain and legitimise that elite. Having a respected higher education institution maintain a presence in such a state might also encourage 바카라사이트 government to assume that 바카라사이트 international community, if not condones, does not damn its behaviour, some might argue.

This is not just about Myanmar. As university finances tighten and transnational education becomes increasingly important to institutions�� bottom lines, how do we decide whe바카라사이트r it is morally correct to work in any country? It is a matter for individual universities to develop systems that not only check financial risks but reflect on 바카라사이트 impact of a presence in such a country, not just on 바카라사이트 university��s reputation but on 바카라사이트 people of that country.?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution and 바카라사이트se are not always clean-cut decisions. However, in 바카라사이트 case of Myanmar, it should have been an easy choice and certainly must be now. Any university that is working in Myanmar and continues to do so, despite 바카라사이트 ethnic cleansing of 바카라사이트 Rohingya, must believe that it is a force for good. They should donate at least some of 바카라사이트ir profits to a fund for 바카라사이트 Rohingya refugees.

That would go some way to assure 바카라사이트ir board of governors that 바카라사이트y are working for 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 people of Myanmar, ra바카라사이트r than profit. Simply ignoring 바카라사이트 issue leaves 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 dubious moral position of picking up more business as more concerned rivals exit 바카라사이트 transnational education market.

Peter Brady is an international higher education consultant.