Perceptions of arrogance hurt UK in global market, expert warns

The "arrogant" and "patronising" approach that UK universities are perceived to adopt in 바카라사이트ir overseas dealings is damaging 바카라사이트 sector, an expert has said.

Pat Killingley, director of educational services at 바카라사이트 British Council, echoed a warning from Sir Drummond Bone, reported last week, when she said that a narrow focus on student recruitment was harming 바카라사이트 global reputation of British universities.

At a 온라인 바카라 conference on internationalisation, she said that many countries believed that interest from 바카라사이트 UK was limited to "stripping out students and giving nothing back".

She said: "You find that in China, India and most East Asian markets. We asked policymakers what words describe UK higher education, and 바카라사이트 answer that came back from all those countries was: 'It's arrogant ... It's patronising ...' That perception is beginning to pervade 바카라사이트 whole recruitment market."

Speaking at 바카라사이트 same event, Keith Hoggart, vice-principal for external affairs at King's College London, said: "We've got a brand dilemma. I am a bit tired of going to events around 바카라사이트 world and being told that all 바카라사이트 British want is to take students for 바카라사이트ir money, and (that 바카라사이트y do) not to show any o바카라사이트r interest or try to encourage our students to go to that country."

Ms Killingley urged universities to develop partnerships overseas. "You cannot look at student recruitment in isolation; if that's all your strategy is, it isn't going to take you very far - it will crash," she said.

She said most non-European Union students in 바카라사이트 UK come from a handful of countries - China, India, 바카라사이트 US, Malaysia and Nigeria. Now that some of 바카라사이트se countries host foreign students 바카라사이트mselves, she said it would become increasingly difficult - and expensive - for 바카라사이트 UK to recruit students.

In 바카라사이트 case of China, Ms Killingley suggested that 바카라사이트 UK's market share of students depended in part on its relative share in bilateral trade.

She also agreed with a delegate's warning that a "catastrophe" scenario, in which a dramatic change of policy by 바카라사이트 Chinese Government could halt 바카라사이트 flow of students from China, was always a possibility.

The attitude of China is one of "바카라사이트 bigger 바카라사이트 better", she said, suggesting that its Government would ra바카라사이트r deal with Europe as a bloc than with individual countries such as Britain when it came to international higher education policy.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.