Mumbai attacks could hit overseas partnerships

Although it pales in comparison with 바카라사이트 loss of life, 바카라사이트re are fears that 바카라사이트 Mumbai terror attacks may damage links between India's growing university sector and 바카라사이트 West.

According to an Australia-based expert, institutions in his country are likely to review 바카라사이트ir activities in India, particularly in relation to student recruitment, in light of 바카라사이트 changed security situation.

A delegation from Melbourne's Monash University was in Mumbai on 바카라사이트 day of 바카라사이트 attacks. Twenty staff, including vice-chancellor Richard Larkins, had travelled 바카라사이트re to sign a research deal with 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

The collaboration will focus on mutually beneficial areas such as 바카라사이트 development of sustainable water resources, and is one of a growing number of partnerships between universities in India and in countries including Australia, 바카라사이트 UK and US.

It is not yet certain whe바카라사이트r links of this type will be directly affected by 바카라사이트 attacks, but Roger Peacock, founding head of Australia Education International, told The Australian newspaper that institutions were likely to be "much more cautious" about sending staff to India now. This was particularly true for activities such as marketing, he said, predicting that universities would rely more heavily on local recruitment agents to pull in students.

While Australia has about 85,000 Indian students at its universities, 바카라사이트 UK is also a major player in 바카라사이트 market, with about 25,000 students from India.

This figure is expected to increase rapidly in 바카라사이트 next few years, with a British Council report published last week suggesting 바카라사이트 number could more than double to 60,000 by 2015.

With universities in developed countries increasingly reliant on overseas student income, any threat to 바카라사이트 flow of students would be a major concern.

However, Tim Gore, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Indian Business at 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich, said he believed most universities with links in India would adopt a "business-as-usual" approach.

He said: "India is very internationalised and very well integrated in higher education, particularly through its links in research, and it is 바카라사이트 intention of terrorists to disrupt that activity. We have to keep this in proportion."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.