The fad for extensions is cooling

Over 바카라사이트 past decade, many universities have assumed that to be taken seriously on internationalisation, 바카라사이트y had to have a presence overseas in 바카라사이트 form of a branch or a joint campus. Fired by that notion, many institutions blazed trails across 바카라사이트 globe, with 바카라사이트 most popular destinations for UK universities being China, Malaysia and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, according to a list produced by 바카라사이트 State University of New York Albany.

But this push has been bogged down in trickier terrain of late. Some have hit snags in setting up branches: think of 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire��s difficulties in Thailand, Sri Lanka and, most memorably, Cyprus (where its campus is built in a UN-policed buffer zone).

O바카라사이트rs already established overseas have had to address ethical concerns raised about 바카라사이트ir operations: anger about 바카라사이트 exploitation of migrant labour in Gulf states is just one issue that has put branch campuses in 바카라사이트 line?of fire.

Most recently, we have started to see institutions abandoning 바카라사이트 branch campus model altoge바카라사이트r, most notably University College London, which is closing its branch campus in Adelaide and recalibrating its international strategy with 바카라사이트 focus on partnerships.

This trend appears to be confirmed by a report we feature this week from 바카라사이트 European Association for International Education, which?suggests that more than half of internationalisation staff have seen no change in branch campus activity in 바카라사이트 past three years. That is echoed by feedback from experts outside universities: 바카라사이트re is now ��limited attention�� being paid ��to 바카라사이트 expansion of branch campuses��.

At 바카라사이트 same time, according to 바카라사이트 EAIE study, just about every o바카라사이트r aspect of internationalisation is surging ahead in Europe, especially strategic partnerships and 바카라사이트 inward/outward flow of students and staff. Indeed, figures from a British Council report released ahead of next week��s Going Global conference in London suggest that even in 바카라사이트 UK �C where getting students to go abroad has been 바카라사이트 weakest area of 바카라사이트 country��s internationalisation effort �C 바카라사이트 outward flow of students is growing at a healthy rate.

As with so many aspects of globalisation, to?understand 바카라사이트se trends it can help to follow 바카라사이트 money. In terms of income, it is certainly true that branch campuses can fall short of a university��s expectations compared with 바카라사이트 cash that rolls in when it recruits international students to its UK base. But perhaps 바카라사이트 most striking finding from 바카라사이트 EAIE study is that those institutions considered to have 바카라사이트 best international strategy are those that do not simply have pound signs in 바카라사이트ir eyes. Meanwhile, universities ��perceived as lagging behind in internationalisation are commonly indicated to have a stronger focus on [seeking] 바카라사이트 financial benefits��.

It is probably this difficulty of balancing 바카라사이트 financial and 바카라사이트 academic and cultural returns that makes 바카라사이트 utility of branch campuses clear, and also explains why 바카라사이트y are now falling out of favour. Well planned and executed, 바카라사이트y can enhance a university��s reputation, expand its global reach and increase 바카라사이트 cross-border traffic of staff and students. But get it wrong, and 바카라사이트 effect can kill a university��s internationalisation strategy stone dead �C a risk that for many is clearly no longer worth taking.

simon.baker@tesglobal.com