[photopress:mba_uk_unis.jpg,full,alignright]There may well be a lesson in this for Chinese universities. It is not inevitable the numbers will always grow. That the number of students will always expand.
The numbers of UK undergraduates are expected to fall over the next decade. A report for Universities UK — the umbrella body for university leaders — says there will be a fall in the numbers of 18 to 20-year-olds. The overall decline equates to 70,000 full-time undergraduate places over the next 10 years. Other figures show a continued rise in overseas students at UK universities.
In the period from 2005/6 to 2006/7, there was a 7% rise in the number of students from non-EU countries studying in the UK.
Total numbers of non-EU students rose from 223,855 to 239,210, according to figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
China remains the source of the highest number of non-UK higher education students, although numbers fell by 2% from 50,755 in 2005/06 to 49,595 in 2006/07.
The report for Universities UK looks at demographic trends which could influence higher education.
The authors say the number of non-EU students at all levels of study is expected to increase by 4% by 2026/27.
Professor Rick Trainor, president of Universities UK, said: ‘This is an invaluable piece of work which should help the UK higher education sector prepare for some of the expected demographic changes between now and 2019.
‘The work will also form part of Universities UK’s preparation for the review of variable fees in England, due next year. The review will need to take into account the wider issues facing higher education, some of which are reflected in this report.’
Such a report is seriously needed in China although much work has already been done in this area. On a personal note in England they have just closed the university which my son attended majoring in beer and members of the opposite sex. The story it is not being closed rather that it is being amalgamated. No it is not. It is being closed.
Source: BBC