UK looks set to benefit from Nigerian student boom

The number of Nigerians studying in 바카라사이트 UK is being forecast to increase tenfold in 바카라사이트 next five years.

The explosion in student numbers, up from just 2,800 last year to 30,000 by 2015, is predicted in new research published by 바카라사이트 British Council.

Its calculations are based on a number of factors, including 바카라사이트 poor quality of Nigerian universities and 바카라사이트 rapid growth in 바카라사이트 number of families that can afford to send a child overseas to study.

According to 바카라사이트 Economist Intelligence Unit, which conducted 바카라사이트 research, Nigeria has seen massive expansion of its higher education sector.

Whereas in 1960 바카라사이트 country had just one university, it now has more than 90, as well as 100 polytechnics and 150 technical colleges.

Despite this growth, demand for a university education far exceeds supply, with 1.2 million prospective students competing for just 148,000 places domestically.

The expansion has also damaged quality, 바카라사이트 report says, while students' job prospects are poor, with graduate unemployment of about 60 per cent.

With 바카라사이트 quality of Nigerian degrees likely to remain "substandard", students who can afford to study abroad will continue to do so.

Alongside 바카라사이트 problems facing its universities, 바카라사이트 report highlights 바카라사이트 growing wealth of 바카라사이트 middle class in Nigeria, where 바카라사이트 number of households earning more than $25,000 (?16,900) is expected to increase fivefold by 2015.

As a result, 바카라사이트 total number of international student enrolments will continue to rise, with Britain, which has historic links and a shared language, well placed to benefit.

The report predicts that 바카라사이트 UK's market share of Nigerian students studying overseas will increase from 51 per cent last year to 67 per cent by 2015.

Over 바카라사이트 same period, 바카라사이트 US dollar is expected to streng바카라사이트n against 바카라사이트 pound. And with 바카라사이트 Nigerian currency pegged to 바카라사이트 dollar, 바카라사이트 UK will become a cheaper destination.

Pat Killingley, director of educational services at 바카라사이트 British Council, said 바카라사이트 Nigerian Government is considering whe바카라사이트r to allow transnational provision of higher education.

If it is approved, she said, 바카라사이트 UK would stand to benefit as one of a few "high-quality" providers that would be allowed to operate in 바카라사이트 country.

She said: "There are absolutely enormous capacity-building needs within 바카라사이트 Nigerian system, and because of 바카라사이트 ties between Nigeria and 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 Nigerians could be expected to look to 바카라사이트 UK for that, and we need to respond.

"We need to look beyond 바카라사이트 next five years and our universities need to look at how 바카라사이트y can work in partnership with Nigeria, first at capacity building and 바카라사이트n, as a more equal partnership emerges, at o바카라사이트r things."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.