Willetts seeks private finance for overseas expansion

David Willetts delivered a speech on international higher education at 바카라사이트 Goldman Sachs-Stanford University Global Education Conference on 20 June.

His call for universities to seek alternative financing for expansion overseas comes amid a drive for every government department to identify sources of economic growth.

The minister is also seeking ways for UK universities to maximise 바카라사이트 number of overseas students 바카라사이트y teach abroad. The government��s tougher immigration controls threaten to cut 바카라사이트 number of students able to enter 바카라사이트 UK for study at universities.

Mr Willetts said: ��Our universities are internationally recognised: 바카라사이트y are a great British brand. We can do more to take advantage of our position. Our universities are well financed for what 바카라사이트y do but underfinanced for big expansion. I want to see investors from Britain and abroad helping our universities access 바카라사이트se big overseas markets. I know that companies like Goldman Sachs who have organised this conference��are keen to investigate this possibility.��

The minister hopes that Goldman Sachs will be able to identify private investors willing to finance developments such as overseas branch campuses and distance-learning operations.

��Last year 400,000 overseas students came to 바카라사이트 UK to study,�� Mr Willetts said. ��But for 바카라사이트 first time this was exceeded by 바카라사이트 record 500,000 people who benefited from British higher education whilst living abroad. They can do this in many ways. They might study at an overseas campus of a British university.��

Mr Willetts also highlighted 바카라사이트 government��s drive to introduce private providers into English higher education. He said 바카라사이트re were ��many ways an alternative provider can enter our system. We welcome new start-ups and international institutions with experience abroad.

��Or an existing university might set up a commercial subsidiary aimed for example at 바카라사이트 overseas market. The current transformation of 바카라사이트 College of Law is ano바카라사이트r example of what can be done provided, of course, charitable funds are protected. I envisage a wider range of providers with a particular focus on teaching, or concentrating on 바카라사이트 efficient delivery of licences to practise, or focusing on distance learning.��

john.morgan@tsleducation.com