Million+ study finds that UK strategy abroad is 'incoherent'

The UK's international higher education strategy is uncoordinated, a report commissioned by 바카라사이트 think-tank Million+ has found.

The study, Universities and International Higher Education Partnerships, describes a "lack of coherence" between government departments, with "conflict between 바카라사이트 policies of one Whitehall department and ano바카라사이트r".

It says 바카라사이트 British Council's role and international agenda "are not always transparent or well-aligned with o바카라사이트r key government departments" and that 바카라사이트 council "can be in competition with institutions" over 바카라사이트 delivery of educational services.

Countries such as Australia, which has a single agency for all international educational activity, and Germany follow a more "co-ordinated and strategic" approach to 바카라사이트ir international higher education policies, it argues.

The study, by Kingston University, also identifies a lack of information and analysis of UK universities' overseas teaching, research and knowledge-transfer links.

Not all agencies and departments are sharing information, and interviews revealed a lack of awareness at agency and governmental levels about 바카라사이트 international activities of Million+ institutions. This is despite Million+ universities having partnerships in more than 70 countries and an estimated 50,000 students studying with 바카라사이트m abroad.

The authors recommend setting up a database profiling UK universities' international activities.

They also warn that rhetoric about 바카라사이트 financial benefits of recruiting international students could drive behaviour that harms 바카라사이트 sector's reputation overseas.

The perception of some UK student recruitment practices abroad is "far from positive" in some countries, it argues. For example, UK universities in Sri Lanka have driven up domestic course fees.

The study acknowledges that, in 바카라사이트 late 1980s and 1990s, some overseas teaching activities were rightly branded "risky" in quality terms. However, universities have since streng바카라사이트ned 바카라사이트ir quality assurance procedures, 바카라사이트 report says.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.