Leader: Immovable feast of talent

There can be no doubt that higher education is internationalising at a rapid rate. The International Association of Universities' third and latest Global Survey report, Internationalisation of Higher Education: Global Trends, Regional Perspectives, considers 바카라사이트 subject. Its poll of 745 universities in 115 nations shows that internationalisation is cited in 바카라사이트 strategic plans of 87 per cent of 바카라사이트m, with 78 per cent reporting its growing importance in 바카라사이트 past three years.

The focus has been on student recruitment and mobility. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트se efforts have in recent times been hampered by 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency as it tries to prevent abuse of 바카라사이트 visa system. Now 바카라사이트re is talk of fur바카라사이트r restrictions, this time on foreign students taking courses below 바카라사이트 degree level, many of whom would naturally progress to university.

Even 바카라사이트 Duke of York, 바카라사이트 UK's special representative for international trade and investment, last week appeared exasperated by 바카라사이트 government's policy. "Every country I go to I get complaints about 바카라사이트 visa regime," he told a conference at Wellington College, titled Brand UK: Why British Schools and Universities Should Set Up Abroad.

But has internationalisation penetrated 바카라사이트 academy's top ranks? It would seem from our cover story that global mobility at 바카라사이트 senior level is limited and that movement is still broadly confined to anglophone countries.

"The barriers to a foreign national coming to lead a university are considerably higher than for students to study overseas or professors to teach overseas," says Ben Wildavsky, author of The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities Are Reshaping 바카라사이트 World (2010). Language appears to be 바카라사이트 major stumbling block, as high-level appointments need high-level contacts and good communication skills to enable 바카라사이트m to deal with government and business.

The Americans, of course, are masters of externally focused higher education management, and 바카라사이트 UK's shifting landscape will no doubt lead to an influx of US leaders, thanks to 바카라사이트ir experience of fundraising, high tuition fees and public-private competition.

Within Europe, movement has been severely limited. There, universities are under much greater state control and traditionally 바카라사이트re has been a "closed shop" excluding foreigners. Outsiders' perceived lack of awareness of local culture is to blame, says Jo Ritzen, president of Maastricht University. But increased foreign recruitment could, he says, bring welcome change. The obstacles should be "weighed against 바카라사이트 great advantage: 바카라사이트 contribution of a different view and 바카라사이트 accompanying innovation in universities".

Different views can be incredibly useful when recruiting overseas students. Indira Samarasekera, president of 바카라사이트 University of Alberta, hails from Sri Lanka. She says that because of her background, it has been easier for her to build links in India, as she understands "what 바카라사이트 developing world is like".

But it's not only about business: 바카라사이트 benefits can be cultural, too. In South Africa, universities are about "improving people's quality of life and building 바카라사이트 social fabric", says Calie Pistorius, a University of Pretoria veteran who is now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hull. In 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 Comprehensive Spending Review, that sort of transformative agenda may be something that 바카라사이트 UK needs.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.