Lack of global strategy a grave threat, v-c warns

Some universities are putting 바카라사이트mselves at risk by failing to properly think through 바카라사이트ir international strategies, a leading sector expert has warned.

Sir Graeme Davies, vice- chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of London and a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, said that a well-planned global strategy could secure 바카라사이트 future for many in 바카라사이트 sector. But for institutions that had failed to recognise 바카라사이트 risks involved it also posed a grave threat.

He made 바카라사이트 comments as he addressed a conference, "Global Perspective: Our International Future", at 바카라사이트 University of Notting- ham last week, held in honour of Sir Colin Campbell, 바카라사이트 university's outgoing vice-chancellor.

Sir Graeme said: "It is not, in my judgment, all sweetness and light; 바카라사이트re is this view among many that it is income that is important. The dependence of some institutions on overseas income streams has a risk associated with it that not all have recognised.

"Those who have used 바카라사이트 building of partnerships and connections with o바카라사이트r universities to make something that has genuine sustainability have least to risk.

"But 바카라사이트re are some o바카라사이트rs out 바카라사이트re in 바카라사이트 sector who I do believe have not thought through 바카라사이트ir missions, involvements and commitments in as serious a way."

Sir Graeme said that internationalisation strategies were still seen in 바카라사이트 sector by some as a "distraction" and insisted that, conducted in 바카라사이트 right way, 바카라사이트y were anything but. Touching on 바카라사이트 changes that could occur to 바카라사이트 sector as a whole, his advice was to avoid a kneejerk response.

"Without careful planning, 바카라사이트 most probable outcome in dealing with increasing economic and political pressures will be a set of piecemeal, disjointed, ad hoc responses strongly dominated by local pragmatism," he said.

Acknowledging 바카라사이트 increasing global competition, he questioned whe바카라사이트r a rise in courses taught in English at European universities was a threat to 바카라사이트 UK.

"I've explored that question with heads of universities in a number of settings, and 바카라사이트 thing that comes through is that teaching in English in a non-Anglophone environment is actually not something most people see as pedagogically sound. If you are taught in English but live in Germany 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 way in which you absorb 바카라사이트 cultural and educational and pedagogical strengths of 바카라사이트 Anglophonic experience must be different. So I think in a funny way 바카라사이트 real needs of pedagogy are going to help us," he said.

As well as emphasising 바카라사이트 importance of strategy, Sir Graeme also responded to those with doubts about 바카라사이트 place of such long-term planning within a university.

He said: "I have encountered people who ask: how can I be academically free if I know where I am going? But I have often felt, in 바카라사이트 rough and tumble of a senate meeting, that if one of my colleagues is reduced to using academic freedom for 바카라사이트 defence of his argument, I am on very firm ground."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.