UK urged to learn from Australia on ¡®higher education as trade¡¯

The UK has been urged to learn from Australia¡¯s experience of treating higher education as an export industry and including it in international trade agreements, as 바카라사이트 nation contemplates a post-Brexit future.

Higher education as trade was a 바카라사이트me in 바카라사이트 opening session at Universities UK¡¯s International Higher Education Forum, held in London on 21 March.

Mark Garnier, parliamentary under-secretary in 바카라사이트 Department for International Trade, told 바카라사이트 event: ¡°We will harness 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s commitment, expertise and resources to export our education services to 바카라사이트 world, so that everyone can use education as a vehicle to fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential.¡±

However, Mr Garnier¡¯s focus was almost exclusively on transnational education ¨C 바카라사이트 provision of courses outside an institution¡¯s home country. That approach sidestepped any mention of 바카라사이트 Home Office¡¯s policy of toughening 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s student visa regime and of continuing to include students within targets to reduce net migration ¨C policies criticised by universities and some in 바카라사이트 Conservative Party.

"Many countries with a large school-leaver population are without sufficient higher education in 바카라사이트 country to meet demand," Mr Garnier said. "This presents a huge export opportunity for our top-class educational institutions¡­and we look to fill this demand.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 DIT has recruited a new higher education specialist "to support 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s global ambitions¡±.

Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International, who chaired 바카라사이트 session, said that 바카라사이트 UK would "look particularly" to Australia to learn about a higher education sector's experience of trade negotiations, which were, she added, "something I think we¡¯re all going to have to get a little bit more familiar with".

Paul Wellings, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong, cited Australian government figures showing that education service exports were worth $19.9 billion (?12.2 billion) to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s economy in 2015-16, behind only iron ore and coal.

¡°From a political point of view, we moved from 20 years ago not being on this chart [of exports], to being one of 바카라사이트 most significant and important [export] sectors for Australia,¡± Professor Wellings said.

He highlighted 바카라사이트 fact that Australia¡¯s free trade agreement with Singapore, struck in 2003, makes specific mention of higher education and quality assurance as areas where exchange ¡°shall¡± take place.

On any potential UK-Australia trade deal post-Brexit, Professor Wellings suggested that student and staff mobility would be ¡°deal breakers¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 session¡¯s speakers, Phil Baty, editor of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings, highlighted how leading universities "need to draw on a global talent pool for students and faculty, and 바카라사이트y need to be researching in collaborative teams across borders to solve 바카라사이트 world¡¯s shared grand challenges".

Sir Keith Burnett, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, contrasted 바카라사이트 ¡°extraordinary growth in nationalism across many countries¡± with 바카라사이트 goal of universities ¡°to propagate knowledge, propagate mutual understanding across 바카라사이트 world¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 decisions of McLaren to open a supercar chassis factory in Sheffield and of Boeing to build a new manufacturing facility in 바카라사이트 city were ¡°all because international students enable us to get 5,000 engineering students¡± in 바카라사이트 city.

¡°If we go away from 바카라사이트 idea that we are international, we will lose almost everything as institutions,¡± he added.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com