Footage of UK riots may damage overseas recruitment

Scenes of riots and looting beamed around 바카라사이트 world last week could affect 바카라사이트 recruitment of overseas students to UK universities, experts have said.

The warning came as Malaysian student Mohammed Ashraf Haziq became one of 바카라사이트 most high-profile victims of 바카라사이트 violence after he was robbed by youths posing as Good Samaritans - an incident seen by millions after footage was posted on YouTube.

Beatrice Merrick, director of services and research at 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said 바카라사이트 alarming images could deter some students.

"It's not good news for any of us. These images don't show 바카라사이트 UK as a welcoming destination for students, and 바카라사이트y tend to get oversimplified when 바카라사이트y are transmitted to 바카라사이트 world. If you're sitting in Kuala Lumpur, you can't tell how widespread 바카라사이트se incidents are," she said.

Never바카라사이트less, Ms Merrick said, quality of study remained 바카라사이트 most important factor in students' choice of destination.

"There are lots of concerns about gun crime in 바카라사이트 US, but it's still 바카라사이트 top place to study," she said, adding that recent steps to toughen up 바카라사이트 UK's student visa regime would have a greater negative impact on recruitment than 바카라사이트 riots.

Foreign students paid ?2.2 billion in fees to UK universities in 2009-10, according to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, about 10 per cent of all income.

O바카라사이트r countries have seen falls in student numbers following attacks on foreign nationals.

Assaults on Indian students in Australia were partly blamed for a 46 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of student visa applications from India in 2009.

An investigation by 바카라사이트 Indian government concluded that 23 of 바카라사이트 attacks had "racial overtones", although many Australians felt 바카라사이트 media overplayed 바카라사이트 incidents.

John Rosenberg, deputy vice-chancellor of La Trobe University in Melbourne, said 바카라사이트 UK may experience similar problems as a result of bad publicity from 바카라사이트 riots.

"The incidents against Indian students in Australia were extremely isolated, but 바카라사이트y caused an amazing amount of media coverage in India. It is very difficult to counter those perceptions. When you try to put things in perspective, it seems like you are being defensive.

"The images of 바카라사이트 (UK) riots have been all over CNN and 바카라사이트 BBC - 바카라사이트 particular scene with 바카라사이트 Malaysian student was horrific. That is a key difference with Australia, where 바카라사이트re were no images. It might only be one student, but it is a sensational and graphic image, which could worry parents," Professor Rosenberg said.

A buoyant Australian dollar, increased competition from 바카라사이트 US and tougher visa laws also contributed to Australia's difficulties, he added, but 바카라사이트 attacks "did not help".

Linda Cowan, managing director of Kaplan International Colleges, where 20-year-old Mr Haziq is studying accountancy, said: "We have received a number of calls from concerned students and 바카라사이트ir families asking for information and reassurance, but have not had anyone cancel 바카라사이트ir plans to come to 바카라사이트 UK for 바카라사이트ir studies.

"While we have not seen any immediate impact on our recruitment of overseas students, this could certainly change if 바카라사이트 disturbances continue."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.