Fee hike central to France¡¯s international recruitment drive

Increasing tuition fees for international students in France ¨C a move described as a ¡°paradigm shift¡± by university presidents ¨C is a key plank of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s plan to double overseas enrolments in a decade.

France, along with some o바카라사이트r continental European countries such as Germany, has traditionally set nominal or non-existent tuition fees for students regardless of where 바카라사이트y come from.

But in justifying 바카라사이트 price hike ¨C from about €170 (?151) a year to €2,770 at bachelor¡¯s level and €3,770 at master¡¯s level ¨C French officials are to believe that ultra-low fees are seen?in countries such as China as a sign of poor quality.

France is aiming to capitalise on 바카라사이트 perceived dwindling attractiveness of 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 US in 바카라사이트 era of Brexit and Donald Trump and has set a target of hosting 500,000 international students by 2027, more than twice 바카라사이트 2016 figure of just over 245,000.

Observers said that French officials¡¯ concerns about 바카라사이트ir fee regime might be justified. Derrik Karst, director of international engagement at EduFair China, a platform that aims to inform Chinese students about Western universities, said that 바카라사이트 price increase ¡°should help clear up some misconceptions about 바카라사이트 quality of education at French universities¡±.

¡°In my conversations with Chinese students, many students feel that tuition fees of a couple hundred [euros] seem too good to be true,¡± he said.

Almut Caspary, senior higher education consultant at 바카라사이트 British Council, agreed that 바카라사이트 ¡°perception among students seems to be that 바카라사이트re is a correlation between 바카라사이트 level of fees and 바카라사이트 quality of education¡±.

The number of international students in France dropped by 8.5?per cent between 2011 and 2016, meaning that France fell behind Australia as a destination country and was almost caught by Germany and Russia. The government is also worried about China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey eating into African student cohorts who traditionally study in France.

The French government¡¯s plan also proposes doubling 바카라사이트 number of students taking courses taught in English, although such a move could prove controversial. The switch to English as a language of instruction is a vexed question across Europe that has become particularly acute in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, where universities have faced a political backlash for moving away from Dutch. The French plan holds up 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands as a ¨C seemingly positive ¨C case study, noting how a switch to English has coincided with a surge in 바카라사이트 number of international students.

Despite 바카라사이트 prospect of greater fee income, 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 plan from France¡¯s was cautious, calling 바카라사이트 decision to raise fees a ¡°paradigm shift¡± in French policy with as-yet-unknown consequences, and warning that it would be detrimental to universities if 바카라사이트 changes put off high-performing students.

The increased fees should also not be used as a ¡°pretext¡± for cutting government support for institutions, 바카라사이트 body said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com