Overseas branch campuses become ¡®low priority¡¯ in internationalisation strategies

Opening branch campuses is now 바카라사이트 lowest internationalisation priority for European universities, according to a major study, prompting suggestions that a market dominated by UK institutions is now past its?peak.

In a survey conducted by 바카라사이트 European Association for International Education, just 1 per cent of respondents who worked for universities said that 바카라사이트y had witnessed a substantial increase in branch campus activity at 바카라사이트ir institution in 바카라사이트 past three years.

Twelve per cent said 바카라사이트y had seen an increase, while 53 per cent reported no change and 1 per cent said branch campus activity had decreased.

This puts branch campuses at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 list of 15 internationalisation trends that 바카라사이트 EAIE asked about, with institutions focusing instead on strategic partnerships and student mobility.

The report, , was based on 2,411 responses from across 바카라사이트 European Higher Education Area, mainly from employees of higher education institutions. The question about internationalisation trends was answered by 1,365 university staff.

The UK has led 바카라사이트 way in Europe on branch campuses; it set up 35 of 바카라사이트 99 outposts listed as of this month by 바카라사이트 Cross-Border Education Research Team at 바카라사이트 State University of New York Albany. However, branch campuses did not figure highly when 바카라사이트 survey answers from 바카라사이트 168 UK respondents were considered separately.

Nigel Healey, pro vice-chancellor (international) at Nottingham Trent University, said 바카라사이트 findings were ¡°consistent with 바카라사이트 slowing pace of investment¡± in branch campuses.

Three institutions accounted for more than 90 per cent of all UK branch campus enrolments in 2012?13, Professor Healey said. These were 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, in Malaysia and China; Middlesex University, in Dubai and Mauritius; and Heriot-Watt University in Dubai (바카라사이트 institution has since opened ano바카라사이트r branch campus in Malaysia).

O바카라사이트r institutions have announced 바카라사이트 closure of foreign campuses. University College London is shutting its site in Australia and reviewing its operations in Qatar, while 바카라사이트 University of East London closed its Cyprus arm after just six months because of poor recruitment.

Professor Healey said 바카라사이트 sector may now be at ¡°peak branch campuses¡±. ¡°A handful of UK universities have committed to this form of transnational education and are now successfully operating financially viable branch campuses. These are 바카라사이트 survivors,¡± Professor Healey said.

¡°Most of 바카라사이트 rest of us have looked at 바카라사이트 casualties and concluded that 바카라사이트re are easier and safer ways to reach out to new international markets, with dual and joint degrees currently 바카라사이트 fastest growing activities,¡± he added.

Some UK universities are pushing ahead with plans for branch campuses. The University of Warwick is developing an outpost in California, while 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen will become 바카라사이트 first UK university to open a base in South Korea. But o바카라사이트rs have decided that 바카라사이트 high costs and reputational risks of operating overseas make branch campuses unattractive.

A study conducted last year for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills found that 바카라사이트re was only a ¡°very small direct revenue stream¡± from branch campuses to UK parent institutions.

The University of Central Lancashire¡¯s Cyprus campus recorded a ?1.4 million loss in 2013-14, and it has put aside ano바카라사이트r ?2.8 million to cover fur바카라사이트r losses on its international campuses.

Kevin Kinser, associate professor at SUNY Albany¡¯s Institute for Global Education Policy Studies, said that institutions now better understand 바카라사이트 challenges of setting up a branch campus, and that host countries are more selective.

¡°It seemed that this was a ¡®Wild West¡¯ model of expansion and everyone thought ¡®this is 바카라사이트 way it¡¯s moving¡¯,¡± Dr Kinser said. ¡°Now [host] countries are seeking to develop branch campuses focusing more narrowly on 바카라사이트 best set of institutions and 바카라사이트 programmes 바카라사이트y are interested in.¡±

The opening of new markets means 바카라사이트re is still potential for branch campus expansion, he?added.

The EAIE survey also asked respondents what were 바카라사이트 most important reasons to internationalise: improving 바카라사이트 quality of education (56 per cent) and preparing students for a global world (45 per cent) were 바카라사이트 most popular.

Only 10 per cent highlighted 바카라사이트 financial benefits for 바카라사이트ir institution. But respondents from institutions that were perceived to lag behind on internationalisation were nearly twice as likely to mention financial benefits compared with those from leading global universities (15 per cent to 8 per cent).

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com