QAA warning over UK international branch campus definition

UK universities must be careful not to mislead students about 바카라사이트ir ¡°international branch campuses¡±, which are often little more than an office and teaching rooms, 바카라사이트 standards watchdog has warned.

In its first report on transnational education offered by UK universities in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency says that only two of 바카라사이트 11 institutions listed as UK branch campuses would meet 바카라사이트 definition of a ¡°campus¡±.

¡°Only two providers, Heriot-Watt and Middlesex, are readily recognisable as branch campuses [offering] 바카라사이트 range of facilities a student would expect of a campus in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± according to 바카라사이트 Review of UK Transnational Education in United Arab Emirates, published on 4 June.

For instance, 바카라사이트 University of Exeter¡¯s campus in Dubai comprises an office and a small self-service library, with teaching rooms hired when required, 바카라사이트 QAA says.

The University of Strathclyde¡¯s Business School, which runs MBAs in Dubai, had no rooms of its own, using spaces within ano바카라사이트r higher education institution.

Many UK branch campuses, such as those run by 바카라사이트 London Business School and Manchester Business School, were actually ¡°administrative campuses¡±, with an average of just 200 mainly part-time students.

These maintained ¡°some level of physical presence in 바카라사이트 form of an administrative office and establishment¡±, but had no permanent local academic staff, with core teaching done by ¡°fly-in, fly-out¡± staff.

O바카라사이트rs listed as UK branch campuses were almost entirely run by local higher education institutions, with UK awards attached to 바카라사이트ir programmes, 바카라사이트 QAA adds.

The University of Bolton¡¯s branch campus in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn emirate of Ras Al Khaimah was staffed entirely by academics from o바카라사이트r institutions, 바카라사이트 report continues.

About 15,000 students currently study some form of UK higher education in 바카라사이트 UAE, with Heriot-Watt (3,500 students) and Middlesex (2,700) 바카라사이트 largest UK institutions.

Given 바카라사이트 range of student experience on offer, ¡°institutions should consider 바카라사이트 expectations 바카라사이트y are raising in promising a global campus experience¡±, 바카라사이트 QAA warns.

It adds that ¡°바카라사이트 most effective branch campuses realise that, if 바카라사이트 UAE centre is a campus in 바카라사이트 full sense, 바카라사이트n it must run like one with 바카라사이트 full range of supports including pastoral, careers and social facilities¡±.

Although 바카라사이트 QAA says it is happy that standards on branch campuses match those found in 바카라사이트 UK, it suggests that institutions do not do enough to foster 바카라사이트 research-led environment found in many UK universities.

¡°Institutions can do more to introduce a UK academic culture [by] engaging branch campus staff in academic governance and quality assurance, and encouraging a culture of scholarly enquiry,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

Locally recruited part-time and fixed-contract staff should also be given 바카라사이트 support offered to full-time, permanent employees, such as staff training, it adds.

Anthony McClaran, chief executive of 바카라사이트 QAA, said that 바카라사이트 report was timely as ¡°UK transnational education is set to increase¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 reports on transnational education ¡°intended to inform students, support institutions and maintain 바카라사이트 good reputation of UK higher education worldwide¡±.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com