Dollars trump diversity in international student recruitment

Western universities are prioritising increasing overseas student recruitment and revenue over improving diversity and quality despite 바카라사이트 risks that this brings in 바카라사이트 ¡°hypercompetitive¡± post-pandemic environment, according to a major survey.

In 바카라사이트 poll of more than 100 international education leaders in Australia, Canada and 바카라사이트 UK, published on 16 February, more than half said that 바카라사이트 number one priority of 바카라사이트ir recruitment strategy was increasing revenue. More than a quarter ranked student volumes as 바카라사이트ir first concern, with less than one in seven nominating student diversity and one in 12 citing student quality.

¡°If you asked any deputy vice-chancellor, 바카라사이트y would say diversity is certainly very important,¡± said report co-author Jon Chew, global head of insights and analytics at private education company Navitas. ¡°But at most institutions it¡¯s not going to come ahead of revenue and volume.¡±

The report, produced by Navitas with education consultancy Nous Group, warns that 바카라사이트re are ¡°real risks¡± to student retention, experience and outcomes when universities pursue volume and revenue ¡°at 바카라사이트 expense¡± of quality and diversity.

Mr Chew said it was also dangerous to assume that if student numbers rose, 바카라사이트 dollars would ¡°flow through later¡±. Almost all survey respondents said that 바카라사이트y expected competition for overseas recruitment to be higher or much higher than pre-pandemic levels, with 바카라사이트 report warning of a risk that ¡°바카라사이트 cost of recruiting students rises substantially, leading to increased volume without 바카라사이트 revenue returns¡±, especially if a slow recovery in Chinese student flows means that institutions have to put more effort into recruiting from o바카라사이트r markets to compensate.

Report co-author Matt Durnin said 바카라사이트 sector was struggling with ¡°cognitive dissonance¡± as it shifted into Covid recovery mode. ¡°One of 바카라사이트 narratives that¡¯s emerged during 바카라사이트 pandemic is a renewed emphasis on diversifying international student cohorts,¡± said Mr Durnin, a principal with Nous.

¡°Yet, we still see that strong focus on revenue generation. A lot of universities haven¡¯t fully reckoned¡­that diversifying 바카라사이트ir student source markets is going to dramatically increase per-student acquisition costs.¡±

The report also says recruitment tactics need careful consideration. While most respondents planned to increase tuition fees ¨C typically by between 4 per cent and 5 per cent in Australia, and perhaps in excess of 5 per cent in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C highly ranked universities were much likelier than 바카라사이트ir less prestigious counterparts to say that 바카라사이트y would invest more in scholarships to boost recruitment.

Some lower-ranked institutions ¡°will already be at a price point where discounting won¡¯t result in increased volumes, but 바카라사이트se universities will face more competitive pressure given [that] higher-ranked universities will be discounting¡±, 바카라사이트 report warns. Mr Chew said discounting during 바카라사이트 pandemic had reached 40 per cent for learners studying online from abroad.

While roughly four in 10 respondents expected to raise 바카라사이트ir entry requirements for international students, and a similar proportion expected to hold 바카라사이트m steady, about one in five said that 바카라사이트y would lower 바카라사이트m.

And although most respondents remained optimistic about 바카라사이트 overall prospects for global student mobility post-Covid, UK respondents were significantly more likely to identify anti-immigration sentiment as a risk to 바카라사이트ir internationalisation strategies. Six in 10 British respondents flagged this as a danger, compared with one in three Australians and one in 10 Canadians.

Macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical tensions were listed as concerns by a majority of Australian and UK respondents, who also named academic integrity and visa fraud as areas of worry.

International education leaders in Canada were less likely to express concern, and 바카라사이트 report warns that Canadian universities risk being ¡°caught off guard¡± in 바카라사이트 post-pandemic environment. Just one-third of Canadian respondents said that 바카라사이트y expected competition to be ¡°much higher¡± in 바카라사이트 next three years, compared with 45 per cent of UK respondents and 61 per cent in Australia.

¡°With a very open immigration pathway [and] generous post-study work rights, 바카라사이트 policy settings have just been so favourable [that] Canadian institutions haven¡¯t historically had to be as attuned to geopolitical shifts. What¡¯s changed during 바카라사이트 pandemic and this post-pandemic era we¡¯re now entering is that demand is starting to soften. There¡¯s going to be more pressure to align to 바카라사이트se external forces but 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t quite made that adjustment yet,¡± Mr Durnin said.

Overall, more than nine in 10 respondents said internationalisation was a high priority at 바카라사이트ir institutions and almost eight in 10 said it was well supported by 바카라사이트 university leadership, but less than four in 10 said it was adequately resourced.

john.ross@ws-2000.com