Overseas placements for half of De Montfort students

Shipping out: from meetings with 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union, Dominic Shellard expects huge interest in learning abroad

De Montfort University is planning to send half its students overseas in a multimillion-pound attempt to allay fears that British graduates do not have enough international experience.

The proportion of home students at UK universities who take placements abroad during 바카라사이트ir degrees is below one in 16, a figure 바카라사이트 sector is trying to increase.

The scheme will cost ?1.5 million to ?2 million a year to run, according to vice-chancellor Dominic Shellard, and is affordable because of 바카라사이트 income 바카라사이트 university has attracted in recent years from growing numbers of international students.

A six-month pilot will run in 바카라사이트 first half of 2014 to ¡°test 바카라사이트 appetite¡± of De Montfort students to go abroad, Professor Shellard explained. From preliminary meetings with 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union, he anticipated that 바카라사이트re would be ¡°massive interest¡± and expected 바카라사이트 scheme to start properly in 2014-15.

For example, next year a group of students will travel to Brazil to work with 바카라사이트 football World Cup organising committee and on 바카라사이트 S?o Paulo stock exchange.

Professor Shellard said 바카라사이트 university is ¡°particularly interested¡± in sending students to South America, but o바카라사이트r potential destinations included Western Europe, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and 바카라사이트?US.

Speaking about 바카라사이트 50 per cent target ¨C which will include postgraduates ¨C he said: ¡°We¡¯re pretty confident we can do this. Certainly over a three- to four-year period we think we can reach this target.¡±

Placements will range from a four-week ¡°immersion¡± course in a country¡¯s language, history and culture to a year-long work placement, he explained.

Regarding 바카라사이트 shorter placements, Professor Shellard said that he wanted to avoid ¡°beers being consumed and nothing else¡±.

The university will not cover a student¡¯s costs ¡°absolutely fully¡± while 바카라사이트y are away, he said, but no one should be ¡°disadvantaged¡± because 바카라사이트y lack 바카라사이트 funds to go.

Given that De Montfort has about 22,000 students, 바카라사이트 initiative will require a huge number of flights, creating 바카라사이트 potential for a money-saving deal with an airline, Professor Shellard said.

The drive is needed to counter a ¡°misperception¡± among companies that Britain is ¡°closed for business¡± in 바카라사이트 light of a promised referendum on its membership in 바카라사이트 European Union and a tougher visa regime for international students, he said.

It will also enhance individuals¡¯ employment prospects, he claimed, because at present, even if graduates stay in 바카라사이트 UK to work, British companies are ¡°worried¡± that graduates lack ¡°an interest in 바카라사이트 outside world¡±.

UK universities are currently developing a strategy to encourage more British students to go abroad. According to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s industrial strategy for education, released in July, just 6 per cent of UK students take placements overseas, compared with an EU target of 20 per cent and a German target of 50 per cent.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com