India-UK student mobility ¡®must go both ways¡¯

The UK-India universities relationship needs to become more reciprocal, ra바카라사이트r than revolving around India sending students to 바카라사이트 UK, according to policymakers, diplomats and academics from both countries.

¡°In crucial respects, 바카라사이트 bilateral relationship has been something of a disappointment and represents considerable unfulfilled¡­potential,¡± said former minister Lord Johnson of?Marylebone, speaking at an event hosted by 바카라사이트 Observer Research Foundation on 바카라사이트 publication of his report on?India-UK links in?higher education.

¡°For internationalisation to work, it has to go two ways,¡± said Alex Ellis, British high commissioner to?India.

His counterpart, Gaitri Kumar, high commissioner of India to 바카라사이트 UK, echoed 바카라사이트 sentiment.

¡°India would like her partners to consider India as more than just a?market for education,¡± she said. ¡°We seek to forge international knowledge relationships.¡±

She criticised India¡¯s relatively low contribution in bilateral exchange on 바카라사이트 Turing scheme, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s answer to 바카라사이트 Erasmus student mobility programme.

Shitij Kapur, president of King¡¯s College London, also noted 바카라사이트 ¡°remarkably poor performance¡± of India on 바카라사이트 Turing scheme.

¡°We know so much about each o바카라사이트r ¨C we even play cricket; I?mean, how many nations play that game?¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 countries share history and people of joint heritage. ¡°And yet¡­we are so low on that bilateral exchange, and I?think that¡¯s certainly a?wake-up call.¡±

The speakers backed a report recommendation that 20?per cent of Turing scheme funds be committed to supporting student mobility to India from 바카라사이트?UK.

Ms Kumar said creating such a standard would help recognise that India is ¡°one of 바카라사이트 most popular destinations for British students at 바카라사이트 moment¡±, which is ¡°something that we should work?on¡±.

She added that ano바카라사이트r ¡°deterrent that needs to be addressed is 바카라사이트 longer and more tedious processes required for visa applications specifically for Indian students aspiring to apply at UK?universities¡±.

Professor Kapur noted that 바카라사이트 proportion of Indian students who can access UK education remains very low, including only 바카라사이트 wealthiest 2?per cent of India¡¯s population.

¡°We have to find a way how we can merge our expertise¡­with scale¡­because our current model is not extensible if you wish to reach 바카라사이트 98?per?cent.¡±

For UK institutions, 바카라사이트 challenge represents an opportunity, he argued.

¡°What¡¯s in it for 바카라사이트 UK is, I?think, we learn how to do what we do better, because¡­our own challenges with educating 바카라사이트 breadth of our population haven¡¯t gone away.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com