The report dispelled assumptions that enrollment losses from the EU and China could be compensated for by markets such as Nigeria, labeling such notions as “incorrect.”
The report dispelled assumptions that enrollment losses from the EU and China could be compensated for by markets such as Nigeria, labeling such notions as “incorrect.”
A report by the UK’s International Higher Education Commission and the Oxford International Education Group has revealed weak points in the country’s international education sector.
This resulted in Commission Chair Chris Skidmore calling for a reassessment of the UK’s approach to international education amid global uncertainty and a shifting geopolitical landscape.
The report titled “International Education Strategy 2.0” scrutinized the 2019 International Education Strategy and uncovered potential shortcomings that could affect the sustainability and resilience of the UK’s higher education sector. It underscored the pressing need for improved data collection and analysis to inform future policy decisions, particularly regarding international student visas.
In the 2020-21 academic year, international enrollments in the UK exceeded the 2030 target of 600,000. However, Skidmore argued that this surge in student numbers, occurring a decade ahead of schedule, may not be sustainable in the long run due to specific prevailing circumstances.
Critical issues in the study included shifting student demographics, reduced diversity in sending markets, increased reliance on non-European countries like India, and unpredictable enrollments from China. Furthermore, the report identified a disruption in the “research talent pipeline,” demonstrated by a decline in undergraduate and postgraduate enrollments.
The report also highlighted concerns about the growing popularity of one-year master’s programs, which resulted in higher recruitment costs for overseas students. Simultaneously, rising non-completion rates among students and increasing accommodation costs are also seen as potential threats to the sector.
The report dispelled assumptions that enrollment losses from the EU and China could be compensated for by markets such as Nigeria, labeling such notions as “incorrect.” It revealed that changes in post-study work policies directly influence enrollment trends, suggesting that policy amendments in this area could have significant ramifications.
The publication expressed concern over the decline in diversity among international students and the vulnerability of certain programs heavily reliant on foreign enrollments, especially from India. “Without urgent actions to diversify markets and ensure a more balanced distribution of international students across programs of study, the UK HE sector is potentially in an extremely vulnerable position,” the report concluded.
Skidmore stressed the critical role that international students play in the UK’s higher education infrastructure. He warned that the sector may be in grave peril if the downward trend in international enrollments continues unabated. The report’s findings are especially pertinent given the impending 2024 ban on international students bringing dependents, he said.
