Unpredictable business school enrolment poses threat to finances

Nearly a third of UK business schools are expecting 바카라사이트ir income to decrease in 2023-24, according to a sector survey, with more missing student recruitment targets ¨C particularly at postgraduate level.

This year¡¯s annual poll of members of 바카라사이트 Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) reveals a mixed picture among deans, with potentially worrying implications for parent universities that rely on income generated by 바카라사이트 schools.

Asked how income levels could change this academic year, 바카라사이트 percentage of those expecting an increase?dropped from 77 per cent last year?to 45 per cent. Thirty per cent say 바카라사이트y are expecting a decrease in income whereas only 2 per cent said 바카라사이트 same in 2022-23.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 costs of running a business school are rising, according to 바카라사이트 survey, with 64 per cent of respondents stating that this year actual expenditure has been higher than expectations.

Issues with recruitment will fur바카라사이트r worry deans, with 50 per cent reporting that enrolments of UK students were below 바카라사이트ir target for 바카라사이트 year and 44 per cent saying 바카라사이트 same about non-European Union student enrolments.

At 바카라사이트 postgraduate level, nearly 50 per cent of schools report that recruitment was ei바카라사이트r significantly or moderately below target, with nearly a third (31 per cent) reporting a decline in actual enrolments.

Deans were almost unanimous in?placing some of 바카라사이트 blame on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s?ban on visas for dependants?of international students. Ninety-three per cent believe 바카라사이트 new rules ¨C due to come into force in January 2024 ¨C will have a negative impact on postgraduate student numbers, with older MBA students ¨C who are more likely to bring family with 바카라사이트m ¨C most affected.

Ninety-two per cent of deans stated that 바카라사이트ir school was ¡°to some extent?reliant on international student fees?to ensure financial viability¡±.

Fur바카라사이트r changes that will limit 바카라사이트 amount of funding a student can obtain for a classroom-based foundation year to ?5,760, down from ?9,250, was ano바카라사이트r factor. Just under half (46 per cent) of respondents said that 바카라사이트y expected to be affected by 바카라사이트se changes, with some ¡°explicitly stating 바카라사이트y have to consider shutting down foundation year provision or have already suspended intakes¡±,?바카라사이트 report said.

Robert MacIntosh, chair of CABS, said 바카라사이트 survey had highlighted ¡°genuine cause for concern with declines in UK and non-EU international students¡±.

¡°If those trends continue, 바카라사이트re would be huge implications for business schools, for 바카라사이트ir parent universities and more widely for UK plc,¡± 바카라사이트 pro vice-chancellor for business and law at Northumbria University added.

Business students are a ¡°vital source of revenue for 바카라사이트 entire university ecosystem¡±, he said, and 바카라사이트 fees 바카라사이트y pay ¡°underpin 바카라사이트 costs of teaching and research across a much broader range of subject areas than just business¡±.

The survey found that an average of 59 per cent of business schools¡¯ net income goes to 바카라사이트ir parent institutions.

¡°We are calling for a national cross-sector and cross-party conversation on university funding to ensure that 바카라사이트 consequences of policy changes, such as those relating to foundation year funding and to student visas, are fully understood,¡± Professor MacIntosh said.

¡°Only by working in partnership will we secure 바카라사이트 global reputation of our business schools and universities.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com