UK colleges powering emerging economies

A new study published today shows that UK colleges are responding to the huge demand for education from China, India and other booming economies.

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53,000 international students study at UK colleges - with Chinese and Indian students topping the league.

The Warwick University Study shows that the majority of students taught by UK colleges are from China (3,500) and India (3,300).

Julian Gravatt, Director of Funding and Development for Association of Colleges, that commissioned the report, said;

ìThe growth for the worldís fastest growing economies is outstripping their ability to teach their workforces. UK colleges are actively responding to this need. Theyíre forming new partnerships in the worldís most important markets, taking our own expertise in skills training to areas of the world where it is most needed.î

UK colleges around the globe:

- London Beijing Colleges partnership - London colleges providing skills training and curriculum development for the Beijing Olympics.

- Preston College providing knowledge exchange and staff training in Omsk, Russia

- Blackburn College developing expertise and skills training for the textile industry with South Delhi Polytechnic, India.

Report says:

There is huge demand for education and training in India and China.

China is seeking help internationally to expand and overhaul its further education system.

Expenditure of GDP on education in India set to rise from three to six per cent.

- 50% of colleges see foreign expansion as a key future opportunity

- UK collegesí key exports are English Language teaching, Business administration, Engineering and IT.

- UK education is most attractive for having a good international reputation, offering all teaching in English and being quality assured.

- UK Further Educationís strengths are its qualifications - that reflect industryís needs, innovative curricula, a wide range of courses, flexible course delivery, a strong emphasis on independent learning and a good track record in international activities

Key recommendations:

There needs to be better marketing and promotion of UK colleges, skills training and qualifications in foreign markets.

There needs to be better joined-up working between government and UK colleges, to increase economies of scale and support expansion abroad.

The recommendations of the Foster and Leitch reviews should be implemented to give UK colleges parity with their EU counterparts.

UK qualifications need to be made more transferable and more widely accepted around the world.