UK: Lessons from the Antipodes

Britain should emulate Australia by adopting a coordinated approach to international education says a new report by million, a think-tank set up by 28 universities that are mostly former polytechnics. Pam Tatlow, the organisation's chief executive, said that compared with Australia the UK still lacked a comprehensive approach to international higher education.

This had resulted in a default position which has reinforced presumptions and hierarchies. Government departments, sector agencies and universities needed to develop a coordinated strategy if the UK was to build on the successful international activities which these universities have developed, Tatlow said.

The million+ report, by researchers at Kingston University, points to the lack of comprehensive and regular data collection within individual institutions and at the sector level, so much of the international work went unnoticed.

"This represents a serious missed opportunity for institutions themselves, their representative bodies and UKplc," it says.

Policy agencies appear to focus on the Russell Group of the research-led institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge and London, "because of a perception that overseas governments are most interested in developing partnerships with 'elite' institutions", says the report.

Yet million+ universities have developed a wide variety of international links and collaborative arrangements with overseas partners in terms of teaching, research and knowledge transfer which have, until now, been underestimated and undervalued, it says.

The 28 establishments in the survey teach more than 70,000 international students on their UK campuses and have partnerships in more than 70 countries yielding some £47 million ($66.5 million). The researchers estimate the inflow of these students to the universities is bringing at least £600 million to their local communities.

The report recommends that "useful lessons" could be learned from Australia. Universities UK should collect information on international partnerships similar to the Australian on-line database, AusLIST. It also wants the British Council to take more notice of the newer universities while the full strength and diversity of the UK system should be adequately and appropriately represented in policy arenas.

Pat Killingley, the British Council's higher education director, said: "UK universities are seen internationally to be at the leading edge, not only in research but also in innovative learning and teaching practice. This is where million+ members are showing real strength on the international scene."

The report contains examples of case studies of international partnerships in the universities of Glasgow Caledonian, Leeds Metropolitan, Central Lancashire, Derby, Sunderland and Bedfordshire.

*Read the report here

diane.spencer@uw-mews.com