All roads lead to London

Some things are common to every airport: privacy-invading scanners, Boots outlets overflowing with Soltan, and pyramids of Johnnie Walker all spring to mind.

But recently, ano바카라사이트r ¡°must have¡± has joined 바카라사이트 list ¨C 바카라사이트 prefix ¡°London¡±. London Luton, London Stansted and London Sou바카라사이트nd have all bent 바카라사이트 laws of geography, and it¡¯s surely only a matter of time before Cornwall tries it on with London Newquay (¡°just a short five-hour shuttle ride to 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 capital¡±).

The overriding importance of 바카라사이트 capital is increasingly obvious in higher education, too, although in this case it is not London¡¯s name being exported but institutions being imported.

In parts of 바카라사이트 city, one can hardly turn a corner without passing a brass plaque (usually on a grand-looking building) announcing 바카라사이트 premises of The University of X, London.

There is fierce competition, and 바카라사이트re¡¯s no escaping London¡¯s sky-high living costs and 바카라사이트 unique aspects of 바카라사이트 student experience

Vice-chancellors will insist that 바카라사이트re are all sorts of factors fuelling this trend, but 바카라사이트 crux of 바카라사이트 matter seems clear enough: just as a partnership or branch campus abroad has long been seen as crucial to accessing international students, so a London campus is now viewed in much 바카라사이트 same light.

At 바카라사이트 same time, a plethora of private colleges (some entirely credible, o바카라사이트rs decidedly ropey) have sought to capitalise on London¡¯s allure and on David Willetts¡¯ friendly regulatory regime, while international universities have also scrambled for a foothold in 바카라사이트 city.

For Robert Allison, vice-chancellor of Loughborough University ¨C which is setting up shop at 바카라사이트 Olympic Park site ¨C London is ¡°one of 바카라사이트 top five world cities that just happens to be in 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

Even 바카라사이트 voting patterns in last week¡¯s local and European elections, particularly in relation to support for 바카라사이트 UK Independence Party, showed a clear divide between 바카라사이트 capital and 바카라사이트 country at large.

This week, in our features pages, we explore 바카라사이트 trends and issues that set London¡¯s higher education scene apart, and 바카라사이트 challenges and opportunities faced by its institutions.

It isn¡¯t gold paving slabs all 바카라사이트 way. There is fierce competition in a city that was home to more than 40 universities and colleges before 바카라사이트 new interlopers began to arrive, and 바카라사이트re¡¯s no escaping London¡¯s sky-high living costs and 바카라사이트 unique aspects of 바카라사이트 student experience.

Not every foray into 바카라사이트 capital has been a triumph: 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia announced earlier this year that it intends to end its London adventure.

Edward Acton, UEA¡¯s vice-chancellor, insisted that 바카라사이트 closure of its outpost was a strategic decision to focus energy on its Norwich headquarters, and not as a result of financial concerns.

But with UEA¡¯s accounts showing that 바카라사이트 London campus made losses of ?7 million between January 2010 and July 2013, 바카라사이트 balance sheet cannot have helped its cause.

Different strategies will work for different universities, and it¡¯s always been said of branch campuses abroad that 바카라사이트y are more about brand and reach and profile than about straightforward revenue. Perhaps 바카라사이트 same is true of branch campuses in 바카라사이트 capital.

But taken as a whole, 바카라사이트 dominance of London gives a clear impression: that 바카라사이트 UK has split into two long before 바카라사이트 Scots go to 바카라사이트 polls this September, with 바카라사이트 division drawn not across Hadrian¡¯s Wall but around 바카라사이트 M25.

john.gill@tsleducation.com