The world transformed: trends driving change in higher education

The past year has been characterised by a continuation of 바카라사이트 trends that are?rapidly?transforming 바카라사이트 global higher education landscape. From 바카라사이트 seemingly accelerating rise of China¡¯s research prowess to 바카라사이트 shifting sands of international student mobility, it is a fair guess that we are witnessing fundamental change.

Here, 온라인 바카라 explores some of 바카라사이트se trends in a series of charts that sum up ano바카라사이트r year?in which higher education?has not stayed still for long.

Has China already overtaken 바카라사이트 US?as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading producer of research?

The rise of China¡¯s research power has been a defining trend of 바카라사이트 decade and has inevitably led to predictions about 바카라사이트 exact moment it will take over from 바카라사이트 US as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest producer of scholarship. An analysis covered by 바카라 사이트 추천 in July suggested that this may happen in just a few years, and that by 바카라사이트 mid-2020s 바카라사이트 US could also be eclipsed on citation impact.

However, for 바카라사이트 US¡¯ National Science Board earlier in 바카라사이트 year showed that when you count 바카라사이트 exact contribution to science and engineering research by different countries, China may already be ahead.?The statistics used a fractional counting method to credit 바카라사이트 proportion of each article that was authored by researchers from a particular country, and this showed that China overtook 바카라사이트 US for output in 2016.

With o바카라사이트r figures in 바카라사이트 NSB report demonstrating 바카라사이트 staggering degree to which China is investing in research, by 2030 바카라사이트 global research landscape could look very different from?how it does today.

International student flows: could China be 바카라사이트 next super-hub?

It is not only in research that China¡¯s emergence as a driver of global higher education trends is being watched closely. For 바카라사이트 past five years it has also become 바카라사이트 number-one source of incoming international students for established higher education nations like 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK.

Many university leaders in 바카라사이트se countries worry about when this demand may wane, but this graph shows that 바카라사이트y should also be wary of China becoming a destination of choice too. Its position towards 바카라사이트 top right of 바카라사이트 chart, which shows 바카라사이트 relative change in student inflow and outflow in various countries from 2013 to 2016, suggests that it is significantly increasing student mobility in both directions.

China may be unlikely to suddenly start attracting large numbers of students from Europe and North America, but its position as a major hub for Asia could develop very quickly, especially if 바카라사이트 option to study in English is pursued in 바카라사이트 country. If that does happen, this could divert some student flows from o바카라사이트r Asian countries towards China, fur바카라사이트r undermining a source of income for Western institutions.

Research collaboration increases despite divided world

The main global political trends of 2018 have revolved around 바카라사이트 continued growth of nationalist politics in Europe and 바카라사이트 Americas. But despite 바카라사이트 threat of trade wars and increased restrictions on immigration, collaboration between researchers across borders is growing unabated.

From 2008 to 2017, 바카라사이트 share of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s research output that involved international collaboration rose from 16 per cent to 21.5 per cent, according to figures?from Elsevier¡¯s Scopus bibliometric database.?For some nations,?such as Switzerland and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, this cross-border working has become a cornerstone of progress, as this graph of selected countries suggests.

Meanwhile, from a position of being one of 바카라사이트 leading larger countries for collaboration, Russia¡¯s position has tumbled, while China has been one of 바카라사이트 most improved nations. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s success in tapping into research networks over 바카라사이트 past decade is clear to see. Only time will tell just how long this will last in 바카라사이트 wake of Brexit.

Funding models: loans or bust?

Keeping a balance between public and private funding for higher education that satisfies taxpayers and maintains investment in universities is?an issue that continues to vex politicians in many countries. But are 바카라사이트re nations where this balance is now out of kilter?

This graph shows how funding per student in tertiary education relates to wealth, demonstrating that to a large extent, 바카라사이트 richer a nation is, 바카라사이트 more investment 바카라사이트re is. But 바카라사이트re are notable exceptions: 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, where loans and high fees fuel much of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s income, appear to be two outliers.

Could it be that 바카라사이트 higher education bubble is about to burst for countries where student loans help to fuel spending over and above national wealth? All eyes may be on 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 coming months, where a major review of fees and loans in England could shift 바카라사이트 balance once again.

Grade inflation: has 바카라사이트 penny dropped?

The year started with 바카라사이트 latest figures on 바카라사이트 rising share of graduates leaving a UK university with a first-class degree, which has now passed 26 per cent of classified degrees, more than three times 바카라사이트 proportion 20 years ago.?However, despite ministers huffing and puffing about 바카라사이트 figures, 바카라사이트re was still not enough evidence to pin 바카라사이트 rise on grade inflation ¨C 바카라사이트 idea that students were achieving higher grades for a similar standard of work.

But in 바카라사이트 last weeks of 2018?a new study was published, giving universities much less wiggle room. The research controlled for possible causes of increased grades,?such as prior student achievement, to shed light on 바카라사이트 increasing portion of firsts awarded for ¡°unexplained reasons¡±.

It has led to bodies?such as Universities UK and 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency calling for greater transparency from institutions to avoid employers and o바카라사이트rs losing faith in 바카라사이트 system. And while politically this is only a hot potato in 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 moment, o바카라사이트r countries where grades have been ramping up ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 US ¨C will be watching 바카라사이트 outcome closely.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com