UK universities

'The largest recent difference has been the decline in the numbers coming to us from Singapore and Malaysia and the large growth in numbers from China and India,' says John Alexander, from the University of Glasgow, who puts this change down to a number of factors, including 'the changing international patterns of economic growth'.

Tim Rogers at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which has experienced healthy international applications from their major markets in recent years, says, 'I imagine [the decreases other institutions are experiencing] are as a result of increased global competition, the improvement of local provision and changes in local economic factors.'

Economic factors are certainly having an effect on student enrolments from certain parts of the world, particularly Singapore, as Edwin Cox from the School of Pharmacy at the University of London, points out. 'Singapore is of course in economic difficulty and experiencing unemployment for the first time since independence,' he says. However, Kuah Ann Soon, from ATS Information Technology Institute in Singapore, adds that while economic factors are one reason for the falling student numbers from Singapore, another possible factor is 'universities not appointing local agents'.

The high value of the British pound makes the UK an expensive destination for many students from key markets, and marketing overseas is becoming increasingly vital for UK universities. Pascal Rouillard, from Accents D'Ailleurs in France, puts the 19.7 per cent decrease in the number of French students in the UK down to the increased attraction of destinations such as Australia. 'I think that [this trend] will last [for] the next few years,' he says.

Cox also points out that recent publicity surrounding the issues of funding within UK universities has had a detrimental effect on the country's image overseas. 'Every time a vice-chancellor says we can no longer afford high quality scientific research, it may make only page four of The Times, but it is front page in the Straits Times, South China Morning Post and The Nation,' he says.

However, Rogers believes that factors such as 'better information provision, greater proactive marketing, the general changes in working regulations [for international students] and a relatively good global economy' have helped international student enrolments to the UK remain strong. 'The future looks good,' he says.

'I cannot remember when I last heard the word 'quality' from a British Council Education Promotion person,' says Edwin Cox from the University of London School of Pharmacy. 'Everything has become numbers driven and it does us no favours.'

The Prime Minister's Initiative that was launched in 1999 set UK universities the target of attracting an extra 50,000 international students by 2005 (see Education Travel Magazine, October issue 1999, page 35). The resulting increased promotion overseas and changes to work regulations (see Education Travel Magazine, April issue 2001, page 10) have been welcomed by universities, but high targets for international students have raised questions regarding the adequate provision of courses for increased numbers, as well as the quality of the applicants themselves.

And for some higher education institutions in the UK, this question of quality is having a serious effect on their international recruitment strategy, as Tim Rogers from the London School of Economics and Political Science, explains. 'We are not seeking to increase [international student] numbers at the moment, rather maintain and indeed raise academic standards,' he says.