Is balanced mobility possible for a country like the UK? Kevin Van-Cauter Higher Education Adviser British Council, Manchester

UK Next Generation’ Report: UK undergraduates years old High awareness of globalisation as an economic issue affecting businesses & trade between nations – but with little impact on them 78% felt that having an international perspective was important Arts students felt themselves more internationally aware than science 75% were interested in travelling abroad. 64% would consider working or volunteering overseas and just 43% studying English language countries dominated the wish list of places to work

UK Next Generation’ Report: UK undergraduates years old [Cont’d] Motivations for international experience were learning about other cultures, independence, character building. No strong association made with making them competitive in the jobs market. Concentration on gaining “soft” skills: learning about other cultures, personal experience - Having fun or good memories were more important Primary barriers were cost, poor language skills & perceived lack of time 25% considered the idea as ‘daunting’ and many worried about leaving friends behind Universities played a key role in encouraging students to partake in international experience and to think more internationally

Changing Global Context Global education market is expected to grow significantly in the long-term Fundamental and far reaching changes in the underlying dynamics of the global education market mean that the operating context is very different and there are no guarantees that the UK will maintain its strong position Early indicators suggest a market break-point: established trends are changing dramatically Overall global growth in student mobility, but a slow down in the growth rates for some major countries

Shape of Things to come – British Council research (2012) at a global level, demographic changes and economic slow down will affect the growth of the tertiary education sector – it is expected to grow 1% per annum on average, down from 5% per annum in the previous decades. The growth in international student mobility conforms to a constant percentage of domestic enrolments (2%) as such a significant slow down in the growth in mobility is expected next decade. China, India, South Korea, Germany and Turkey will remain the top countries of origin for international students. However, the highest growth in absolute terms in international students will come from India, Nigeria and Malaysia

Key findings 1. Analysis of macroeconomic and demographic data suggests a significant slow down in the growth of tertiary education enrolments. 2. The above directly affects the mobility of international students – much lower growth is projected to Continued trans-national education growth, determined by quality, student experience and responding to demand in niche subject areas 4. Increasing importance of international collaborations in the production of quality research 5. Implications for UK higher education institutions

Globally mobile students 3.5m international students in up from 800,000 in mid 1970s However, global mobility rate remained unchanged at 2% China and India make up 29% of the tertiary enrolments, but only 21% of the globally mobile students Outbound ratios vary across countries: from over 25% for Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago and Botswana to less than 1% for the UK, US, Russia, Indonesia, Philippines, Egypt and Brazil

Benefits of international students to the UK Fee income from non-EU students is a significant proportion of total income for a large number of higher education institutions. International students also stimulate demand for courses where domestic demand alone can be insufficient to sustain them, thus ensuring that a wider range of courses are available for all students and some strategically important courses remain viable. International students in the UK bring diversity to the education sector, helping to provide an international dimension that benefits all students.

Engagement in international education enhances the reputation of UK and of institutions The experience of students in UK education helps to create good relations that will enable successful engagement with the next generation of global leaders. TNE also plays a role in promoting the UK as a destination for study.

Promoting UK outward student mobility We recognise the importance of UK students spending time abroad. The higher education sector is developing a strategy for outward student mobility. The strategy will promote the benefits of outward mobility and signpost opportunities for students and institutions. It will work with business and others to source scholarship funding, support the brokerage of internships, and reinforce messages on the value of outward student mobility for employability. Government has made a funding contribution to support this initiative

We also have bilateral programmes with a number of countries. For example, under UK-China Partners in Education, David Willetts launched the British Council Generation UK initiative in June. It aims to increase the number of UK students going to China to 15,000 over three years. In 2012, 4,250 UK students studied in China, the aim through this programme would be for over 5,000 a year to go to China, an increase of nearly 20%..

Uk need sto to address barriers, which are: cost, language capability academic credit understanding of opportunities. For example in 2013/14, England is introducing new measures which extend support to students taking study placements outside the EU’s Erasmus scheme. This recognises the equal importance of students gaining experience in other developed and emerging economies.

The Strategy will address: Diversity of the UK HE sector Definitions of outward mobility, including the length Language barriers and other confidence issues for students Widening access for under represented groups Financial barriers and portability of loans The need for a culture shift in attitudes to mobility

University to University Partnerships Providing outward mobility opportunities through Joint & Dual Awards (BC has provided seedcorn funding for the development of either Joint / Dual Awards OR Student Mobility Through evidence from BC funded outward mobility projects to offer 2 way exchange of students, we know benefits are accrued to  the student  the institution  the academic

Some findings from student exchange programmes Benefits to students Challenges students Increases confidence Time to reflect Cross cultural awareness Cross disciplinary experience International networks Personal Professional Development Exhibition experience Experience of residency programme Enhances CV

Institutional Benefits Enhances the home student experience & the international student experience Strengthens Institutional links - to develop into other areas, such as research Student mobility increases recruitment – offering a more cosmopolitan environment Enhances staff experience

Some resources UK Students Abroad abroadhttp:// abroad Erasmus Euraxess IAESTE Thai English Language Assistants news-uk-language-assistants-leave-thailand-with-smile.htmhttp:// news-uk-language-assistants-leave-thailand-with-smile.htm UK China Next Generation programme education/uk-students-abroad/china-generation-ukhttp:// education/uk-students-abroad/china-generation-uk UK Next Generation Report