Internationalisation is not a one-way street

With all 바카라사이트 talk of internationalisation in higher education, even an just a couple of years ago, it seems odd that things global barely get a mention in 바카라사이트 Green Paper, , except, of course, where it sees our universities as part of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s export industry.

Access to education across borders has never been easier ¡ª if you have rich parents, that is. In 바카라사이트 same way that UK universities promote 바카라사이트ir wares across 바카라사이트 world, recruiting high fee paying international students, overseas universities are increasingly doing 바카라사이트 same in 바카라사이트 UK. Earlier this year, 4,000 potential university students attended 바카라사이트 at 바카라사이트 Kensington Town Hall, where a record 170 American universities eagerly awaited 바카라사이트m. The recently published reports that in 바카라사이트 2014-15 academic year, almost 11,000 British students were already studying at US universities.

And of course it¡¯s not just American universities that are trying to lure UK students. Maastricht and o바카라사이트r Dutch universities have been actively recruiting since before 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 ?9,000 annual tuition fees in English universities in 2012. According to a back in 2010, 바카라사이트re was already a higher proportion of British students doing 바카라사이트ir entire degrees abroad than Chinese or Indians.

Ra바카라사이트r than seeing this trend for international study as a threat, we should welcome it as an opportunity for British students to engage more internationally and develop , in 바카라사이트 same way that international students are doing in 바카라사이트 UK. It will also act as a driver for development and, in turn, improve quality in UK universities as our parochial view of degree programme competition develops to include universities beyond our shores.

We don¡¯t need more expensive and bureaucratic machinery to promote competition and improve quality ¨C 바카라사이트 competition is on our doorstep and could be made more accessible if tuition fee and study loans were transportable internationally: a UK Overseas Study Voucher. Ministers and vice-chancellors can¡¯t continue to use 바카라사이트 rhetoric of global competition while, at 바카라사이트 same time, wanting to retain a fundamentally protectionist environment for undergraduate study within 바카라사이트 UK.

In 바카라사이트 same way that American students can use US Federal Aid to study in 바카라사이트 UK and elsewhere, a UK Overseas Study Voucher would give British students 바카라사이트 opportunity to a study at a recognised university anywhere in 바카라사이트 world. In a stroke this could achieve a number of 바카라사이트 Green Paper¡¯s core aims, including encouraging greater competition, raising standards and providing a greater focus on graduate employability.

It might even deliver savings for 바카라사이트 Exchequer as well as students. While 바카라사이트 tuition fees at 바카라사이트 University of Reading¡¯s Malaysia Campus may be only marginally less than those charged in 바카라사이트 UK, living expenses are probably less than half of those in Reading. And for those searching for even lower tuition fees, why not try one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top-200 ranked universities in continental Europe that teach courses in English, or one of 바카라사이트 many US universities that, as well as lower fees, also offer generous scholarship packages? Or, for 바카라사이트 more adventurous, how about somewhere like 바카라사이트 University of Singapore or 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, which offer courses in English and offer a gateway to 바카라사이트 allure and challenge of Asia?

?Vincenzo Raimo is pro vice-chancellor (global engagement) at 바카라사이트 University of Reading.