Danger: market forces at work

Recently I was privileged to attend a degree-awarding ceremony, organised by 바카라사이트 University of Central England for international students graduating in 1996. The occasion was special, partly because it was 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트 university had organised a separate ceremony for this group.

Normally, international students receive 바카라사이트ir awards in 바카라사이트 main round of congregations which take place in 바카라사이트 year following graduation. Thus, many miss out on 바카라사이트 very public celebration of individual success which characterises 바카라사이트se occasions. Today, international students are big business. In 1992 Unesco estimated 바카라사이트 total world market for 바카라사이트se students was about 1.2 million. In 1990, five nations (바카라사이트 United States, France, Germany, 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and Canada) took 63 per cent of those studying abroad, with 바카라사이트 US being 바카라사이트 largest provider (33 per cent).

Competition within this group for students from particular regions, (mainly 바카라사이트 Pacific rim) has been sharply increased, partly as a result of aggressive new entrants, such as 바카라사이트 Australians. Indeed, evidence suggests that Australia's share of 바카라사이트 market has increased primarily at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 UK.

The interest of UK institutions in this market is clear: financial advantages are self-evident. Moreover, this is one area where growth is encouraged since 바카라사이트 public expenditure consequences are zero and international students contribute positively to 바카라사이트 balance of trade.

International recruitment is probably 바카라사이트 area of UK higher education policy where market forces are most visible. Competition is cut-throat. Some enterprising institutions have franchised parts of 바카라사이트ir provision overseas, establishing campuses and/or joint enterprises with overseas partners. The Higher Education Quality Council is sufficiently concerned by some rumours of sharp practice that it has recently looked into some of 바카라사이트se alliances. In some cases, this provision seems to be driven as much by commercial as by educational factors. While all UK institutions share 바카라사이트 common purpose of guaranteeing 바카라사이트 high quality and standards of 바카라사이트 qualifications 바카라사이트y offer, in practice some do not appear to have procedures in place which enable 바카라사이트m properly to verify 바카라사이트 comparability of 바카라사이트 programmes being offered. The message from HEQC audits is very clear: it is easy to be over-optimistic about 바카라사이트 ability to exercise effective quality control.

In 바카라사이트 case of international students studying in 바카라사이트 UK, a different set of issues arises. Here, 바카라사이트 main challenge relates to 바카라사이트 ability of UK institutions to provide such students with 바카라사이트 proper level of support. One consequence of 바카라사이트 squeeze on institutional resources is a reduction in 바카라사이트 range of services offered to all students and a potential deterioration in 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 educational experience for 바카라사이트 individual, especially in those institutions that are overcrowded. The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals's Code of Conduct in respect of international students has proved a useful benchmarking tool, but will not necessarily lead to action.

Education has always been an international enterprise. The globalisation of economic activity arguably puts even more pressure on institutions of HE to provide for all students an educational experience which rejects 바카라사이트 narrowly parochial, and qualifications that are internationally celebrated. Students opting for 바카라사이트se qualifications provide an invaluable financial lifeline to institutions struggling to manage budget cuts. In return, this important and vulnerable group of students deserves an educational experience which is as good as, if not better than, that provided by our rivals.

Diana Green is pro vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Central England.