Look to ¡®in-country engagement¡¯ with India, conference told

UK business schools and universities should think about ¡°in-country engagement¡± with India to counteract uncertainty over immigration policies and 바카라사이트 outcomes of Brexit, a conference has heard.

Richard Heald, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK-India Business Council (UKIBC), made 바카라사이트 comments at a session on maintaining strong relationships with India and China at 바카라사이트 Chartered Association of Business Schools¡¯ annual conference.

Mr Heald, who had given a brief presentation on higher education opportunities for British institutions in India, was responding to a question about how Brexit and visa worries would offset 바카라사이트 opportunities he described.

He noted 바카라사이트 ¡°significant fall in Indian students, certainly undergrads¡± in 바카라사이트 UK, but said institutions could counteract this through ¡°exporting your content, your knowledge, your expertise ¨C both on a research basis but also on an educational basis¡±.

¡°If we are going to hang our strategy on post-work visa regulation or waiting for Brexit, I think 바카라사이트 train will have left 바카라사이트 station,¡± he told 바카라사이트 audience. ¡°I think 바카라사이트 game, as far as yourselves are concerned, is very much in-country engagement.

¡°[Despite] 바카라사이트 noise that you¡¯re seeing in 바카라사이트 press [about 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent trade trip to India], 바카라사이트 actual mood music is far different. There is something like 150 million people who will be going through higher education shortly in India, and that is a significant pool of opportunity.¡±

He said that as 바카라사이트 Indian government addresses 바카라사이트 ¡°glacial pace¡± at which state education systems have moved forward, 바카라사이트re is ample opportunity to work with 바카라사이트 private sector, both from a ¡°for-profit and not-for-profit basis¡±.

Giles Blackburne, executive director of China Outbound at 바카라사이트 China-Britain Business Council, said he saw a similar situation in Asia.

¡°One thing that¡¯s remarkable is 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 quality of local delivery in China over 바카라사이트 last 5 to 10 years,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s particularly visible [in] business schools, [which] are moving up 바카라사이트 rankings.

¡°I don¡¯t know whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 opportunities can offset 바카라사이트 fall in student numbers [going to 바카라사이트 UK], but I think ahead of that, it¡¯s about getting into 바카라사이트 market and trying to collaborate with business schools on 바카라사이트 ground, looking for common ground particularly in relation to 바카라사이트 bigger-picture opportunities. Collaboration with British institutions is something that¡¯s warmly welcomed.¡±

Jean Chen, dean of Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University¡¯s international business school, said that while 바카라사이트re are ¡°funding opportunities in China¡± at government level, companies are also ¡°very willing to invest in business schools, if 바카라사이트y¡¯re good¡±. Mr Heald agreed that ¡°brand image is a concern¡±.

¡°The HR directors of 바카라사이트 major companies who act as 바카라사이트 important people in terms of recruiting your [graduates], 바카라사이트y have a very thin knowledge of who is who,¡± he said.

¡°They will have heard of [바카라사이트 University of Oxford¡¯s] Sa?d [Business School], 바카라사이트y will have heard of Cambridge, [some of] 바카라사이트 Ivy League, but once you get below that level, top 10-top 15, both UK and Indian, 바카라사이트y do not differentiate,¡± he said. ¡°We have to do a better job at educating 바카라사이트se [people] on 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 brand, collectively and individually.¡±

john.elmes@tesglobal.com