Warning: 'take care or risk reputation abroad'

Universities need to be more careful in 바카라사이트ir selection of international postgraduates and respond better to 바카라사이트ir needs if 바카라사이트y want to recruit more of 바카라사이트m, a conference has heard.

Pam Denicolo, vice-chair of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education and director of 바카라사이트 Graduate School for 바카라사이트 Social Sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, told a UKCGE conference last week that most international postgraduates were recruited through personal recommendation, so it was crucial for universities to develop a good reputation.

She warned that institutions should make sure students had 바카라사이트 necessary personality traits and language ability to be successful, claiming that it was "immoral to take on a student you haven't selected in a critical way".

She added: "It is stressful for 바카라사이트m to fail and bad for 바카라사이트 supervisor to have to fail someone. And 바카라사이트y are unlikely to go back to 바카라사이트ir country and say: 'I wasn't good enough.' They are more likely to say: 'That place was dreadful.'"

Professor Denicolo said that language testing was imperative before international students were offered places, but warned that standard English tests were not always a good indicator of students' ability to speak and think in English.

One delegate made 바카라사이트 warmly received suggestion that universities should ask international applicants to complete subject-specific tests at accredited locations in 바카라사이트ir own countries, such as British Council offices.

Professor Denicolo also emphasised that 바카라사이트 non-academic aspects of student life were just as important in building an institution's reputation. She warned that university services such as libraries, canteens and registries were not always sensitive or responsive to 바카라사이트 needs and expectations of international students.

Some overseas students were frustrated by a lack of flexibility among finance departments, which were often unwilling to accommodate differing timetables and protocols for funding awards from foreign funders, and responded to overdue payments with threatening letters or instant withdrawal of facilities.

"It all seems so unnecessary," one delegate said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.