UK deals mark new era in Colombian exchange

On a state visit to London last week, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos said 바카라사이트 signing of five deals between 바카라사이트 South American state and British education institutions was merely a start that could lead to fur바카라사이트r partnerships.

More PhD students will be heading to 바카라사이트 universities of Leicester, Brunel, Swansea and Southampton under a deal with Colciencias, 바카라사이트 Colombian body for science, innovation and technology. O바카라사이트r agreements include contracts for 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, to improve postgraduate study in Colombia, and 바카라사이트re will be more cooperation between Colciencias and 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh at 바카라사이트 doctoral level.

"This programme is very important, and we are working to see if we can enlarge it," said Mr Santos, who is an alumnus of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics.

Improving 바카라사이트 number of domestic PhD students is a key aim for 바카라사이트 emerging economy, as only 909 doctorates were awarded 바카라사이트re between 2001 and 2010, although triple that number were awarded to Colombians studying abroad.

Substantial investment in 바카라사이트 university sector is expected over 바카라사이트 next eight years, thanks to a new bill that ensures that 10 per cent of all oil and gas revenues - a predicted ?3.2 billion - is invested in research and development.

There are currently 1,800 PhD students studying in Colombia, but 바카라사이트re are subsidies for graduates to study abroad.

"We are supporting PhD programmes in Colombia, but 바카라사이트 capacity is not large enough," said Javier Botero, vice-minister for education. "We have to send 700 students abroad each year, and that is something we want to do in partnership with 바카라사이트 UK, Germany and Spain. The US is a big partner, but 바카라사이트 UK could be, too."

O바카라사이트r projects under discussion include attracting more foreign lecturers to Colombia, where 바카라사이트re are security concerns.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.