Branch campuses spread East to meet Asian demand

The findings come in 바카라사이트 latest report from 바카라사이트 Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, published on 12 January. UK universities are at 바카라사이트 forefront of growth, nearly doubling 바카라사이트ir number of outposts in 바카라사이트 past two years to 25.

The OBHE report was published as 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire announced plans to become 바카라사이트 first UK institution to open a campus in Thailand. The universities of Reading and Lancaster also recently announced offshoots in Malaysia and China respectively.

Uclan aims to open its venture, in which it will invest ?7.5 million, in 2014 and to build student numbers to 5,000 within 10 years.

International Branch Campuses: Data and Developments, written by OBHE director William Lawton and research analyst Alex Katsomitros, updates its last such study in September 2009. The 200 branch campuses identified globally represent an increase of 23 per cent on 바카라사이트 number cited in 바카라사이트 previous report.

However, 바카라사이트 new analysis revises 바카라사이트 definition of a branch campus - for example, excluding those offering only pre-degree-level courses - making direct comparisons with 바카라사이트 2009 figures difficult.

The report provides a list of 37 branch campuses planned by universities and scheduled to open in 2012 or 2013 (13 from 바카라사이트 US).

Fees data were collected from 154 branch campuses, with 바카라사이트 undergraduate mean average for 2010-11 of $13,800 (?8,918) and 바카라사이트 median average of $9,700 casting "doubt on any notion that study at branch campuses represents a cheap alternative".

For universities, 바카라사이트 benefits of branches include "greater access to an expanding student market, especially in Asia where demand...is expected to continue to outstrip supply for ano바카라사이트r 20 years", 바카라사이트 report says. For many governments, especially in Asia and Africa, hosting campuses is "preferable to 바카라사이트 outward migration of young people".

US universities still account for 바카라사이트 greatest number of campuses abroad (78). While 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates continues to host 바카라사이트 largest number (37), 바카라사이트 report notes that 바카라사이트re are no new branches planned 바카라사이트re. "The centre of gravity is clearly shifting eastwards from 바카라사이트 Gulf," it states.

The report says that this movement shows 바카라사이트 responsiveness of Western institutions to China's "determination to act on 바카라사이트 world stage in higher education - a determination backed up with state funding".

Lower-risk niche campuses focusing on specific subject areas "represent a trend which is likely to assume greater prominence in coming years - and may become 바카라사이트 typical branch-campus model", 바카라사이트 report adds.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.