Transcript Slide 1

POSTGRADUATE MOBILITY
Professor G R Tomlinson
University of Sheffield, UK
4th International Conference on
Postgraduate Education (ICPE-4)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
November 2010
A few messages :
• International postgraduate research (PGR) students are
essential for the success of an economy (worth >£600
million per annum to the UK economy direct – much
more indirect)
• They contribute to the growth of the knowledge
economy and enhance / motivate the research output
of Universities, supporting aspirations of ‘world-class’
• The need for trained doctoral level staff is growing in
the global economy, (India, China, Nigeria, Malaysia)
• Have we got the ‘best’ models for sustaining
postgraduate mobility?
Some challenges that institutions face
with regards to international delivery:
•
•
•
•
•
Affordability
Flexibility
Supervision / infrastructure
Supply and demand regarding subjects
Immigration / visa issues
Where are the leading destination countries for
international HE students at all levels of study :
Destination Country
Numbers (2007)
US
600,000
UK
360,000
Germany
260,000
France
240,000
Australia
210,000
Japan
126,000
Russia
90,000
China
80,000
Canada
72,000
New Zealand
41,000
However, we might observe a world
where there is likely to be :
• more intense international competition
• more diverse education ‘products’ and a wider
variety of delivery mechanisms
• more varied perceptions of the benefits of HE
• greater discrimination
•influence of the ‘digital world’
•influence of the private sector re priorities
and business models
•changing nature of the doctorate (split site,
professional, jointly awarded …)
Attractiveness of Country destinations favoured by
international PGR students :
United States
United Kingdom
Germany
Canada
France
Australia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Japan
Singapore
Republic of Ireland
China
Malaysia
South Korea
India
Dubai
South Africa
Thailand
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
Trends in Postgraduate Research in UK (HESA data)
Country
2005/6
2008/9
China
4850
5210
USA
3175
3610
Germany
2285
2965
Greece
3115
2700
Malaysia
1785
2400
India
1780
2140
Canada
1250
1390
France
1310
1350
Ireland
1195
1305
Saudi Arabia
850
1290
Taiwan
1215
1255
Thailand
1035
1210
Japan
880
675
Hong Kong
755
625
Libya
495
1000
Areas of Study
Subject Area
2005/6
2008/9
Engineering & Technology
8305
9365
Social Sciences
5600
6305
Physical Sciences
4125
5190
Biological Sciences
3820
4960
Business Studies
3270
3995
Education
2615
2660
Medicine & Dentistry
2360
2935
Subjects allied to Medicine
1795
2485
International PGR Students – relative perception of reputation
1=Very poor
2= Poor
3 = Good
4= Very good
United States
United Kingdom
Germany
France
Canada
Japan
Australia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Singapore
Republic of Ireland
China
India
South Korea
Dubai
Malaysia
South Africa
Thailand
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
So what are the major factors influencing PGR
Students to be mobile?
Dept. reputation
Specific course title
Institution Reputation
Country
City / Location
0%
5%
10%
Note : Above is for international students in the UK
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
What might be other key factors?
Expert Lecturers
Research
Library
Learning Support
Good Teachers
Flexibility
Employability
Multicultural
What about Funding?
International PGR Students in the UK
• Students own personal funds
48%
• Student scholarship from home 15%
• International scholarships
0.5%
UK Support :
• Fee waivers
26.5%
• UK scholarships and foundations 3.5%
Percentage of PGRs supported by their home
government or employer :
Country
Highest %age support
Saudi Arabia
70
Libya
66
Mexico
60
Oman
57
Thailand
51
Malaysia
51
Egypt
50
What is driving global demand?
• Fast growth of the provision in lower and
middle income countries with a lack of
research infrastructure for staff development
• Increasing investment in research
• Competitive international employment market
and its access
What might be the barriers?
• Inflexible delivery
• Inadequate funding support (including access
to part-time work)
• What is the doctorate degree?
• Quality of the student experience
Flexible Doctorates:
JARD – Jointly Awarded Research Degree
ARAP – A*Star Research Attachment
Programme
JARD :
• Developed in partnership with UPM and is a PhD programme
with a high degree of flexibility
• The scheme offers an award (officially on the certificate) from
two world class universities
• Up to 18 months is spent at both UPM and the UoS (minimum
of 12 months)
• Local fees are paid for the duration of the study period at
each University
• List of ‘supervisors’ and research areas / key researchers
available to UPM to ensure quality co-supervision
• Jointly owned IPR (in equal proportion)
• Visiting Professor Scheme
ARAP : A*Research Attachment Programme
• Developed in partnership with the Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*Star) in Singapore
• A 4 year PhD programme with the PhD awarded by the UoS
• Students typically spend up to 2 years at an A*Star
Research Institute in Singapore and up to 2 years in UoS
• When students are in Singapore, A*Star pays a stipend.
When the students are in Sheffield, a scholarship is
provided.
• IPR is jointly shared
• Scheme is only open to UK / European students