UK-US: Boost for academic links

The British Council is investing $500,000 in strengthening ties between universities in the US and Britain. The UK-US University and College New Partnerships Fund, will stimulate increased interaction between UK and US higher education institutions. The funding comes from the Prime Minister's Initiative for International Education with the announcement marking the US International Education Week.

At present, more than 5,000 UK university staff have research links to the US and more than 3,500 US research students are currently working in Britain. Joint UK-US research projects include exploring stem cell therapy for macular degeneration, conducting an extensive study of the Earth's atmosphere, identifying materials that act as superconductors and studying the role of sugar in cell-to-cell communication.

More than 33,000 Americans are studying in the UK, a 2% increase, and the US is the favourite destination for British students with nearly 9,000 taking courses there.

The council's new fund coincides with education partnerships reaching a higher profile in US foreign policy. In recent weeks, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has emphasised education and higher education partnerships on her state visits.

In Russia, she said the Obama administration wanted to reach out to form more partnerships, not just with governments but people-to-people. This would provide a strong foundation for future cooperation, Clinton said.

The Prime Minister's Initiative for International Education was launched in April 2006 with the aim of securing the UK's position as a leader in international education and sustaining the managed growth of the UK's market position.

The five-year strategy sets out to achieve the following targets by 2011: an additional 100,000 international students in British higher and further education, doubling the number of countries sending more than 10,000 students a year to the UK, improving student satisfaction ratings and increasing the number of partnerships between Britain and other countries.