|
The dramatic fall in the value of the Korean won is having a negative effect on study abroad plans among Korean students, according to agents in the country and universities in popular study destinations.
While many countries have experienced currency fluctuations over the last 12 months due to economic instability, South Korea appears to have been particularly badly affected with its currency falling from a peak of nearly 900 won to the US dollar in mid-2008 to 1,360 won to the US dollar in January this year. This change means that the cost of studying in many of the English speaking destinations, such as the UK and USA, has become 50 per cent more expensive for Korean students in six months.
Young Chol Kim, President of the Korea Educational Information Center, said that they had seen reduced business from students wanting to study overseas recently. Kim said, “The countries [that are] particularly expensive for Korean students are the USA, Canada, the UK, European countries and even Japan and China. My company currently recommends Korean students study in New Zealand [where] the currency exchange rate is relatively low.”
Heather Hwang from iAE Edu Net in Korea said that Korean students are continuing to study overseas despite the financial conditions as “they have to get English speaking ability for their career and better future”. She added, “The UK is the most expensive [for Koreans] but recently the euro exchange rate is pretty high so Ireland and Malta are getting expensive [for our students]. They prefer to go to less expensive countries such as Australia and New Zealand. However, they also know they should [always] choose a quality country or institution for money and time value.”
In the UK, Paul Cullen from Writtle College says that they have noticed a decrease in enquiries from Korean students recently. He adds that while they did not have big numbers of Korean enrolments at their college previously, “we definitely haven’t had the interest [from Korean students] as in previous years, which includes enquiries from agents, especially concerning our floristry courses which usually attract Korean students”.
South Australia wants more students
South Australian international education association, Education Adelaide, has launched an international education industry plan that calls for more overseas marketing, expanding the capacity of existing education providers and significantly increasing supporting infrastructure for international students.
The plan provides a target of attracting a total of 62,000 international students to the Australian state by 2014, an increase of 130 per cent on the current figure of 27,000.
Education Adelaide Chair, Bill Spur, said at the launch of the plan in January, “Today’s launch of the SA International Education Industry Plan is believed to be the first of its kind in Australia, with more than 95 per cent of the state’s international education providers involved in the consultation process. Education Adelaide, along with its stakeholders, is committed to building Adelaide’s reputation as a university city and international study destination, and we welcome the industry’s passionate determination to build on 100 per cent growth in overseas student numbers since 2003.”
The industry is currently worth an estimated AUS$741 million (US$497 million) annually to South Australia and is the state’s fourth biggest export earner. The state currently attracts 5.1 per cent of Australia’s total number of international students and the action plan should see this figure grow to nine per cent by 2014.
British Boarding Schools Workshop grows
The British Boarding Schools Workshop was held on two separate dates in March and November last year in order to meet growing demand from schools in the UK.
Suzanne Rowse from SR Events, which runs the workshops, said that schools were not allowed to rebook for both events last year to ensure that agents met with 100 different schools if they attended both events. She added that attendees liked the small size of the events and she had no plans to combine the workshops to create one big one each year. “We have had lots of interest from girls schools and as I try to ensure an even mix of different types of schools we have a waiting list for girls schools until 2010. We are already completely full up for the March 2009 event which will be held in a new venue in Birmingham,” she said. “People like the small size as there is not so much rushing around for them and it has a family atmosphere.”
Dee Lim from The Royal High School in Bath said that they attended for the first time in November. “It seems to be a very professional operation,” she said. “It gives us a chance to meet with agents that we have spoken to on the phone.”
Buntita Thongsari from V and B Educational Services in Thailand said that the workshop was “very interesting” for them. She added, “We are expanding our boarding school business and are looking for junior and senior schools as well as A-level programmes. This workshop helps us see where to send students.”
News in brief
Canberra focuses on overseas students
Three universities located in Canberra, ACT, in Australia have joined together to create a collaborative marketing group to raise the profile of Australia’s capital city as a destination for international students. The heads of the University of Canberra, Australian National University and CIT have pledged to work together to promote Canberra as an education destination, improve the availability of residential accommodation, improve pathways between the institutions and widen subject choice for international students.
Ed O’Daly from the University of Canberra, said, “This collaboration has the full support of the Canberra business community and should enable Canberra to be an even more attractive place to visit, study at and, if all goes well, settle down.”
US university to offer Chinese
The University of South Carolina in the USA has set up a new Confucius Institute through a partnership with Beijing Language and Culture University. The institute will enable the university to offer students more classes in Chinese studies and also provide 20 scholarships to South Carolina students wanting to learn Chinese in Beijing. High school principals and language supervisors in South Carolina will be invited to take a two-week trip to China, while local business people will be offered free language classes at the institute.
Ireland China links
The Irish and Chinese governments have set up a joint working group to promote greater cooperation in the higher education sector between the two countries, according to a report in the Irish Times. Irish Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe told the paper, “The first step is to establish a joint working group between both countries to map future developments and to identify common priority areas.”
|
|
