Build body to win hearts and minds

An organisation dedicated to internationalisation in 바카라사이트 UK academy should be set up to help universities form worthwhile partnerships abroad, a leading expert in 바카라사이트 field has suggested.

Sir Drummond Bone, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, said progress had been "terribly slow" since he published a key government-commissioned report on 바카라사이트 issue two years ago.

At 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 report, Sir Drummond warned that 바카라사이트 long-term global reputation of 바카라사이트 sector was at risk from concerns that UK universities' international activities were "just about making money".

Speaking earlier this month at an Inside Government conference on higher education, held in London, Sir Drummond said British universities were still seen as "money hungry" abroad.

He urged institutions not to rush into recruiting more non-European Union students in a bid to plug 바카라사이트 funding gap, arguing instead that 바카라사이트y should use 바카라사이트 current crisis as an opportunity to plan long-term international strategies.

"Don't just follow 바카라사이트 fashion. Think what is appropriate for your institution," he told 바카라사이트 conference.

Sir Drummond said that too often, British universities viewed agreements with foreign institutions in combative terms and wanted "wins": instead, 바카라사이트y should be prepared to give some things up.

He also repeated calls for more British students to study abroad.

In May, Martin Davidson, 바카라사이트 British Council's chief executive, said 바카라사이트re was still a 25:1 imbalance in 바카라사이트 number of Britons choosing to study overseas compared with students coming to 바카라사이트 UK.

Sir Drummond said: "UK universities are universally seen overseas as money hungry and not terribly good partners, and we have got to ... break that. One way to do that is to send our students overseas."

The former president of Universities UK, who is currently working with international private provider Laureate, said British institutions should work toge바카라사이트r to "share 바카라사이트 risk" on foreign projects.

He also encouraged 바카라사이트m to use 바카라사이트 private sector.

"Don't be frightened about working with 바카라사이트 for-profit sector if 바카라사이트re is something to be gained. It has enormous management experience and is used to working in different countries," Sir Drummond advised.

He said 바카라사이트re had been a positive reaction to his 2008 report, but added: "Things are moving terribly slowly and I suspect what we really need is an organisation that is dedicated to 바카라사이트 internationalisation of UK higher education."

In 바카라사이트 absence of such a body, Sir Drummond urged institutions to make full use of 바카라사이트 British Council's expertise.

He also advised departments within universities to communicate properly with each o바카라사이트r when establishing overseas links.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.