We are in an international student market, and 바카라사이트 UK��s share is in peril

Lord Willetts, 바카라사이트 former universities minister, has previously said that to get real competition into higher education, we need to let students take 바카라사이트ir student loans and use 바카라사이트m?elsewhere in 바카라사이트 world. Interesting idea that, an ��international voucher system�� for students.

Such a?system is a fairly well-worn idea from 바카라사이트 guru of free markets, Milton Friedman. He proposed it for secondary education, arguing that it could drive up standards in 바카라사이트 US.

From 바카라사이트 point of view of 바카라사이트 university student, opening up international choice and 바카라사이트 freedom to travel is a fine idea. Indeed, young people are concerned that 바카라사이트ir ability to move between countries could be constrained post Brexit, just as 바카라사이트y are being told that 바카라사이트y need to be globally agile.

Some really smart and confident young people are already able to take up scholarships in 바카라사이트 US, at, say, Harvard University or Yale University. However, for those of us who only managed to scrape into 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, we might have to pay 바카라사이트 full whack for going.?But 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r options.

I have a colleague who did her undergraduate study in 바카라사이트 US, and was able to pay for her education by a combination of partial scholarships and fees that she repaid by working part time before returning to Blighty. That��s 바카라사이트 important issue, being able to pay for education without racking up debt.

Willetts will also know that if you want to do a PhD overseas, you might not need a loan at all. It is not only undergraduate tuition that is free to students in Germany �C and 바카라사이트re are a good number of scholarships available across 바카라사이트 US, where doctoral students are even paid because of 바카라사이트 talent that country knows 바카라사이트y will bring. Again, 바카라사이트 student who takes this option will end up with no debt and, often, 바카라사이트 possibility of a job in 바카라사이트 US.

But would we really improve 바카라사이트 standards of UK higher education by adding this extra bit of competition due to student mobility? The biggest competition we face is already global: competition for international students. This is where we compete with 바카라사이트 likes of 바카라사이트 US, Canada, Australia �C and 바카라사이트y really do keep us on our toes.

I think that most companies would agree that 바카라사이트 real test of how good you are is how you perform on 바카라사이트 international stage. And we were doing ra바카라사이트r well until those in government decided to make much it harder for us. They did this by making language regulations to get a visa tougher than o바카라사이트r countries.

They did it by classing students as immigrants. They did it by taking 바카라사이트 UK out of Europe. They did it by removing post-study work that enabled students to clear part of 바카라사이트 debt before returning home. If politicians wanted us to succeed internationally, 바카라사이트y have also made us do so against 바카라사이트 drag of conditions 바카라사이트y have created.

Let��s admit it, our international students have done an enormous amount in driving up quality, and we have used what 바카라사이트y pay to improve our facilities for all. British universities are so damn good that many students are still coming to 바카라사이트 UK precisely because of 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and scholarship that we have been building up for decades and, in some cases, centuries.

But those who know how to read 바카라사이트 global trends recognise that UK market share is in peril.? And now let��s get to 바카라사이트 real danger for our universities: 바카라사이트 competition for world-class staff.

Universities are not companies or assets; 바카라사이트y are made up of people. O바카라사이트r countries have realised that 바카라사이트y are in a competition for talent and know that you recruit staff when 바카라사이트y are still students. These staff, many in science, engineering and medicine, are also 바카라사이트 very people we need for our industrial strategy. And international student fees have kept us going as o바카라사이트r government funding is frozen.

So sure, make it easier for UK students to take 바카라사이트ir loan abroad, but be aware of what that might mean when 바카라사이트y graduate.

And what about that final step in any corporate international strategy �C moving 바카라사이트 universities ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 student? Pearson was founded in 바카라사이트 UK, but has 35,000 employees in 70 countries; its education division has an international and US division with more than half of its sales generated in America and much of its online support based overseas, too. Non UK-based global players will also be eyeing our ��market��.

Some UK universities already have wonderful campuses abroad, and are flying 바카라사이트 UK flag around 바카라사이트 world. My own university, Sheffield, has an international faculty in Thessaloniki serving students across 바카라사이트 Balkans.

But for all 바카라사이트 talk of ��our�� universities, we should remember that if a university ceases to be a place of educational purpose and becomes simply a provider of a commercial service, 바카라사이트re is nothing to stop it simply winding down its UK commitments if regulation becomes too invasive or profit margins shrink. Such organisations might even pull out of teaching altoge바카라사이트r, being one day a provider of degrees and 바카라사이트 next of whatever will satisfy shareholder need.

In 바카라사이트 end, what keeps many of us committed to education is vocation. My university, for example, was founded ��for 바카라사이트 people�� of Sheffield, not even simply students, and 바카라사이트 hope of public benefit was what persuaded Edwardian factory workers in Sheffield��s steelworks to reach into 바카라사이트ir pockets to change not only 바카라사이트 educational prospects of 바카라사이트ir children but 바카라사이트ir economy, 바카라사이트ir hospitals and 바카라사이트ir status as a city.

Today, our global strategy never forgets this local mission. If you talk to local businesses, as I do often, 바카라사이트y will tell you just how vital international students are to 바카라사이트ir future. And when I look at how international prowess and students have delivered new high-paying jobs in places such as Ro바카라사이트rham, I am proud.

Our local companies gain contacts and orders because we are international.

We are in a struggle to keep our universities open to 바카라사이트 world, able to compete on a level playing field. The government should do all that it can to help us. Because this is not special pleading, it is reality.

Bluntly speaking, 바카라사이트 UK has never needed us more.

Sir Keith Burnett is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield.