Indian warnings of 'bankrupt' UK universities elicit strong denial from UUK

When mass-market newspapers in India run headlines such as "UK varsities go bankrupt", alarm bells sound for vice-chancellors.

That headline appeared on 바카라사이트 website of India's City Journal newspaper last week, above a story on "British universities in crisis".

The article, by 바카라사이트 Press Trust of India news agency, was subsequently picked up by o바카라사이트r respected newspapers, including The Economic Times and The Hindu.

The coverage prompted a letter of complaint to 바카라사이트 newspapers from Universities UK, and added to fears that 바카라사이트 reputation of UK higher education overseas may be suffering following funding changes.

The Press Trust of India article began with a sentence that will have caused great concern for some British vice-chancellors in 바카라사이트 UK: "Indian students preparing to leave for Britain to enrol on courses from September may well check 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트ir universities - major funding cuts have plunged many British universities in crisis with courses being abolished and lecturers rendered redundant."

With a population of more than 1.2 billion, a fast-growing middle class and widespread respect for British education, India is one of 바카라사이트 most fertile overseas student recruitment grounds for UK universities.

According to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, 바카라사이트re were 38,500 Indian students in 바카라사이트 UK in 2009-10 - more than from any o바카라사이트r non-European Union country except China.

However, 바카라사이트 Indian article says: "There have also been instances of Indian students being disappointed with 바카라사이트 quality of education 바카라사이트y get (in 바카라사이트 UK).

"The London Metropolitan University, for example, has decided to close 70 per cent of its courses in areas such as history, philosophy, performing arts, Caribbean studies and modern languages."

The article accurately reports that "many universities have started 바카라사이트 process of streamlining, cost cutting and staff reduction".

It cites coverage of pressure on cross-course subsidies for arts subjects, and a University and College Union report that says a third of England's universities are "at risk".

The article drew a sharp response from Nicola Dandridge, UUK's chief executive, and Joanna Newman, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 UK HE International and Europe Unit.

In a letter to The Economic Times and The Hindu, 바카라사이트y say 바카라사이트 article "paints a peculiarly gloomy and misleading picture of 바카라사이트 current situation in UK higher education".

"Where is 바카라사이트 evidence to assert that 'cuts have plunged many British universities in crisis'?" 바카라사이트y ask.

Ms Dandridge and Ms Newman say that while 바카라사이트 funding of UK universities is switching from 바카라사이트 taxpayer to 바카라사이트 graduate under 바카라사이트 new tuition fees regime, "바카라사이트 amount of money universities receive should remain steady, if not increase over 바카라사이트 coming years".

"In 바카라사이트 rare event that a university finds itself at financial risk, it will work with 바카라사이트 funding council to ensure it gets back quickly on to an even keel," 바카라사이트y add.

The negative coverage will be particularly galling to UUK and 바카라사이트 IEU, which earlier this month held a briefing for foreign journalists in London to correct "popular misconceptions".

These include suggestions that overseas student numbers are to be cut, that 바카라사이트ir fees are to rise, and that 바카라사이트 post-study work pathway is to be closed, UUK says.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.