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Awareness of the risks UK universities face when engaging with autocracies is “narrow”, parliamentary committee members warned during a foreign affairs session.

Giving evidence during the meeting on UK university engagement with autocracies, which focused heavily on China, Universities UK CEO Vivienne Stern insisted that member universities were following the organisation’s guidance on partnerships with institutions in autocratic countries.

Universities have both a moral and legal responsibility to protect academic freedom, Stern said.

“Academic freedom, ethical considerations, considerations around freedom of speech – they’re working through that guidance and through every case study we’ve gathered on the way. That is being enacted with institutions,” said Stern.

Committee members Fiona Quimbre of RAND Europe and John Heathershaw of the University of Exeter asked Stern whether the financial and academic risks were being adequately dealt with.

“I want to refute the suggestion that universities prioritise financial considerations and considerations of academic freedom. I think that is incorrect,” Stern responded.

“I would also like to refute the suggestion that universities somehow look the other way when entering into a partnership.

“In my previous role [as head of UUKi] I spent a lot of time talking to institutions about how they went about establishing teaching partnerships in autocratic states where it’s clear that academic freedom and freedom of speech are not protected – and the the most common approach… first of all, you have to be clear eyed.

“What I’ve seen played out when these partnerships are formed is that you have to be prepared to walk away,” Stern told the committee.

Quimbre, who wrote a report for the Foreign Office on the challenges and opportunities on collaborating with China, said it was about examining the balance of the “tremendous benefit” versus the potential risk of working with “certain actors”.

“You have to be prepared to walk away”

“The risk awareness itself is quite narrow,” Quimbre said. She told the committee that people typically think of risks such as students stealing information from labs, but that the problem is actually much broader.

“China’s approach to technology for a university is not just about IP theft and cyber hacks, it’s about creating those links and contacts, building them through the years and being able to direct research towards areas of interest,” she said.

Quimbre described a case at Imperial College London, where the institution received £6m from China’s Aerospace Commission before being criticised for supporting China’s military manufacturing, as “the tip of the iceberg”.

“Those kinds of links can be traced… what we currently do not have information on is talent programs, startup competitions, donations and funds.

“Those vectors and enablers of influence in our universities that we don’t speak about and it’s very important to understand  that those current enablers of future research collaboration with countries like China are also enablers of potential tech transfer,” she said, adding that is why the challenge is “so difficult and complex”.

Further defending university integrity, Heathershaw, an international relations professor at the College of Social Sciences and International Studies at the University of Exeter, insisted that it is a “bedrock condition” of universities to ensure academic freedom.

“It’s what distinguishes our universities from many parts of the world where academic freedom is not in place and in some of the partnerships, the universities may be collaborating with in a sort of wilful naivete, then have that freedom and are working for the interests of sometimes quite nasty governments in their home countries.

He further told the committee that any “serious violations of their founding charters”, which have academic freedom embedded into them would be “a dereliction of duty”.

“What we currently do not have information on is talent programs, startup competitions, donations and funds”

Stern reminded the committee that it is not just UUK guidance that can support institutions, referring to the Research Corporation Advisory Team and the Higher Education Export Control Association.

Quimbre agreed that more collaboration between government and academia would be beneficial to managing risk.

Heathershaw said that research on Russell Group institutions in 2020 found that out of the 17 that responded to questions, only seven had independent GIS committees and published criteria for assessing gifts and donations.

“There are weaknesses and things may be improving, but the institutions of that, they are just not functioning as they should be or or having the remit that they should do in some cases,” he admitted.

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The UK government continues to consider limiting dependant visas as the number of students bringing family members to the country with them increased by almost 30% in 2022.

British newspaper The Times reported that foreign students could be barred from bringing their spouses and children to the UK unless they study “high-value” degrees, as the government continues to debate policy changes. 

According to the newspaper, students will only be able to bring family members if they are studying courses that ministers consider to be of high value to the economy, such as science, maths and engineering. 

Currently, students who are studying at postgraduate level can bring family members, no matter which course they are enrolled on. 

A spokesperson from the Home Office declined to confirm the reports, telling The PIE that all immigration policies are “under constant review to ensure they best serve the country and reflect the public’s priorities.

“Our points-based system is designed to be flexible according to the UK’s needs – including attracting top class talent from across the world to contribute to the UK’s excellent academic reputation and to help keep our universities competitive on the world stage,” the spokesperson said. 

Last year, 22% (135,788) of all study related visas were granted to dependants of students , compared to 6% (16,047) in 2019. In its data release, the Home Office wrote this may “reflect a change in the composition of students” coming to the UK, such as a greater number of older students. 

Nigerian students had the highest number of dependants in 2022, increasing to 60,923 from 1,586 in 2019, while Indian nationals had the second highest at 38,990. There were almost 120,000 dependant visas granted to the top 5 nationalities (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) in 2022.

Jeff Williams, CEO and co-founder of student onboarding platform Enroly, previously told The PIE that this rise was to be expected given the increasing popularity of postgraduate courses. 

While the international education sector has previously spoken out against limiting dependant visas, some have expressed concerns around supporting students with family members when it comes to finding housing and schools. 

A formal announcement from the UK government on international student policy updates is expected imminently. 

Opposition party MPs have also spoken out against changes to policy surrounding foreign students.

Earlier this week in UK parliament, shadow health secretary @wesstreeting called home secretary @SuellaBraverman to account on reports she is pushing to “restrict further access to international students”

“We should cherish, embrace and welcome international students,” he said pic.twitter.com/x2uoSCbApt

— The PIE News (@ThePIENews) March 3, 2023

Wes Streeting, shadow health and social care secretary in the Labour Party, said in a parliamentary debate at the end of February that he hoped Braverman “does not win” the arguments around international students.

Streeting said having international students at British universities is “a wonderful thing”.

“It is wonderful for British students who mix with cohorts drawn from across the world, and it is wonderful because they contribute to the cultural and intellectual life of our universities, and of the towns and cities in which they live while studying here,” Streeting said.

“It is a wonderful thing because they often return to their countries with fond memories of Britain, which is an extension of our soft power and diplomatic influence.”

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Ireland’s non-EU researchers should have their visa fees paid for by the body that funds a large portion of postgraduate research, an organisation representing them has said.

The country’s Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation, which includes both domestic and international researchers from all academic disciplines, has said that non-EU researchers are simply unable to afford to live with the compounded issue of visa fees.

A letter, written to the Science Foundation Ireland – the single largest funder of PhDs in the country – and its director general, Philip Nolan, stresses that “non-EU postgraduate researchers face an inordinately large financial burden on an already small budget”.

Many are under financial pressure, the letter reads, with a €300-a-year cost to renew the Irish Residency permit compounded by an average €600 a year fee for health insurance.

The average researcher in Ireland is paid around €18,000 a year – while the country’s current national living wage is €11.30, coming to around €23,000.

The group argues that this “administrative burden” is pushing non-EU researchers “almost €1,000 further beneath an already” low salary.

“It is further tarnishing Ireland’s reputation as a great place to do research”

“During our current cost of living crisis, this is pushing non-EU researchers to breaking point, leaving many living in precarious or unsafe housing or relying on external support locally at their university for basic living needs.

“It is further tarnishing Ireland’s reputation as a great place to do research and damaging our position on the world stage,” the letter continues.

A member of Trinity College Dublin’s branch of the PWO called the request the “very least the funding bodies could do to help us”.

“The current system is not only elitist – favouring financially well-off non-EU researchers – but is also pushing many of us to have to extend our PhDs due to part-time jobs taking up a significant portion of the time and energy that we would like to devote to our research instead”, Saakya Anand-Vembar, a PhD candidate in psychiatry from India, continued.

Another member of the former PGWA – with which the PCAU merged to form the current Postgraduate Workers Organisation in February – at Maynooth, Bana Abu Zuluf signalled that non-EU PhD candidates are often “neglected” in the conversation surrounding expenses “they are forced to take on” under a low stipend.

“We are hit the hardest by the cost of living crisis and have yet to pay an annual cost of €1000+ for private medical insurance and to renew our IRP. You can’t complain about PhDs quitting when this is the condition you put them in,” Zuluf said.

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Australian tertiary education provider NextEd Group has recorded revenues of AUS$43.6 million in the first half of the 2023 fiscal year – a 239% increase over the 1 FY22 revenue of $18.2m.

NextEd, which until December 2022 was known as iCollege, has 11 colleges at 10 campuses across seven Australian cities and operates student recruitment under the Go Study brand.

According to the company’s H1 FY23 Interim Financial Report, NextEd’s EBITDA across four segments hit $6.6 million, a 403% increase over the same period in the previous year.

Operating cash flows of $14.4 million represented a 876% increase, while the cash balance of $38.6 million at December 31, 2022, was 28% higher than the previous half-year.

Deferred revenue by December 31, 2022, was $40.3 million, 31% higher than at June 30, 2022, when it was $30.7 million.

The report noted that NextEd “expects revenues and EBITDA to increase in H2 FY23 against the previous half-year as international student numbers continue to grow”.

“We have delivered extraordinary H1 FY23 results and are excited about harnessing future growth opportunities through course range expansion, increasing our campus footprint and extending student lifetime value,” said NextEd CEO Glenn Elith.

“The NextEd team is energised and committed to unleashing the potential of the organisation and its students.”

While revenue in International Vocational (+256%), Technology & Design (+144%) and recruitment agency Go Study (+160%), in the the Domestic Vocational segment it fell by 19% as NextEd discontinued unprofitable courses.

Brands in the NextEd portfolio include: Academy of Information Technology; Capital Training Institute; Celtic Training; Coder Academy; Go Study; Greenwich College; International School of Colour and Design; online provider Work Ready Education; and SERO Institute.

Although NextEd ceased delivering “unprofitable” courses to domestic students in H1 FY23, the company said the domestic vocational will likely show future growth, especially in hospitality and healthcare.

“NextEd is confident student demand for its accredited vocational courses in hospitality and healthcare will remain strong, and there will be future opportunities to grow these revenues due to available government funding and industry demand for quality graduates,” the report noted.

Cut backs on the domestic courses resulted in a 19% decline in domestic vocational revenue in H1 FY23 to fall to $4.7m, but the company still achieved a 28% increase in EBITDA to $1.5m as a result of back-office reorganisations it introduced “to achieve efficiencies and better support future growth”.

It also recruits international students via Go Study to study at more than 350 education providers across Australia, Canada, US, UK and Europe. The agency has offices in Australia –Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth – Europe – Spain, France, Italy – and South America, in Colombia and Chile.

The report noted that the company’s commission revenue in H2 to December 31 2022 reached $1.9m, up from $796,000 before December 31 2021.

In the first half of 2023, NextEd confirmed 8,460 new student enrolments in English language and vocational courses, a 251% increase on the 2,411 enrolments in 1H22.

As of December 31, 2022, the 4,163 students actively studying English language with the provider was 1,296% higher than the same time in 2021, when 299 students were enrolled. By the end of February 2023, the total English language students had reached approximately 5,300.

Strong supply chain relationships, quality learning outcomes, available campus capacity and Australia’s “attractiveness and resilience as a study destination” will all lead to increased English language enrolments.

NextEd also predicts that the English language enrolments will progress into other vocational programs the company offers.

The provider launched English language and vocational courses at its Gold Coast campus in January 2023, and added six vocational hospitality courses in Perth and Brisbane, with plans to launch them in Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast later this year.

Sydney and Melbourne also saw four new bachelor degrees launch in February 2023.

Expansion at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Gold Coast campuses will allow for an expected increase in international student numbers as the company plans for “significant growth” in future international student revenues.

Classrooms at the Melbourne campus will grow from 73 to 89 from May, those at the Brisbane campus from 12 to 24 from April 2023, and a new lease is expected in early March for an additional 18 classrooms at the Sydney campus.

“In addition to the current growth drivers, there are other exciting opportunities for NextEd to invest in growth through further course range development, geographic and addressable market expansion, and though applying our strong cash position and organisational capabilities to considering strategic M&A,” the report noted.

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As Justin Blake celebrates one year as CEO of BROWNS English Language School, he reflects upon the school’s acquisition, expansion and ethos.

In February 2022, the professional services training specialist Monarch Institute acquired BROWNS.

While leading the English language school as CEO, Blake has also continued as director of strategic projects at the Monarch Institute.

With BROWNS having such a significant history – having been highly accoladed over the years – Blake is keen to reassure stakeholders that under new ownership, it can continue to deliver the “brilliant legacy and quality education” that the provider has become known for.

“There was no intent when we purchased BROWNS to change the business model. [It] was fantastic as it was and it was the reason why we specifically we looked into purchasing BROWNS. It had a natural alignment with our values,” Blake tells The PIE.

The point of buying BROWNS was not to revolutionise it, but to enhance it, Blake says. His is not the only anniversary to celebrate, as 2023 also marks two decades of BROWNS.

“It has 19 years of extraordinary history,” he says.

However, Blake is forthcoming about the difficulties BROWNS, and the wider sector, faced during the pandemic and what it took, and will continue to take, to rebuild.

“The whole staffing got laid off. When I started… we had to get two brand new leases, do multi-million dollar fit outs and two brand new campuses,” he explains.

“It was a difficult time for the industry… we had to restart the schools entirely.”

One year on, the English language provider has around 70 members of staff and Blake describes the new campuses as “some of the highest quality you can see in Australia”.

It signals an extraordinary pace of change.

BROWNS caters for up to 4,000 students every year, and is currently home to around 43 nationalities. With both campuses almost at capacity, Blake is delighted with this “running start”; which he partly puts down to the strong university and government partnerships the provider has developed, especially in terms of high school preparation.

“Our high school preparation program is something that I’m really interested in expanding”

“Our high school preparation program is something that I’m really interested in expanding and growing. It’s often an Asian market but I think we can we can make our mark in those markets.

“There is definitely an eagerness from myself and from anyone else involved in the company to really showcase what we do so well.”

Blake’s lengthy career in education spans Asia and Australia and his accumulation of experiences across ELICOS, TNE, vocational and higher education has led him to his current role – and given the team additional scope to think about expansion.

“I have a good understanding of what it means to work in foreign jurisdictions and the complexities and the joys that those bring. There is some thought towards potentially looking at TNE opportunities and leveraging of some of that experience,” he says.

“We are very interested in significant growth strategies but ensuring that we do that in alignment with our core values of quality and great student experience.”

“It’s really rewarding to see that brand loyalty”

Like many in the Australian ELICOS sector, Blake is concerned about teacher shortages and is eagerly looking to recruit in countries such as the UK, where the age limit for the working holiday visa is imminently to be increased to 35.

With campuses in Brisbane and Queensland, Blake believes that BROWNS teachers can benefit from a “beautiful lifestyle” in Australia.

However, part of the mission to enhance BROWNS was also to bring back as many of its original teachers as possible, which was “very successful”, Blake tells The PIE.

“It’s really rewarding to see that brand loyalty and not just from a student perspective or an agent perspective but also from a teacher perspective, that they are invested in the brand and how much they care.”

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US news website the U.S. News & World Report has acquired CollegeAdvisor.com from NCSA College Recruiting, it has recently been announced.

The acqusition was revealed on February 21, and comes four years after CollegeAdvisor.com was founded in 2019 in order to “assist students of all backgrounds in achieving their college admissions goals”.

The model of the website is founded upon matching students with admissions coaches to personalise the application process and to create individualised preparation.

Eric Gertler, who serves as the CEO and executive chairman of the U.S. News & World Report, said, “CollegeAdvisor.com’s platform is directly aligned with our mission, providing students with a greater understanding of the opaque college admissions process and empowering them with the tools necessary for a successful college admissions journey.”

The U.S. News & World Report, based in Washington D.C. with offices in New York and New Jersey, calls itself a “go-to tool” for informing students on college decisions.

CollegeAdvisor.com’s operations curates content on its website for the international student experience, proving a plus for prospective students.

Some resources include an application guide to aid international students navigating the U.S. university process. Resources such as these aid international students in understanding the requirements of standardised testing, recommendation letters, timelines, etc.

“CollegeAdvisor.com’s platform is directly aligned with our mission”

The announcement advised that international students will still be able to gain these resources through CollegeAdvisor.com even after the acquisition, as the website will continue to operate as a “wholly-owned entity” and will retain its “brand name and current leadership.”

CollegeAdvisor.com, whose headquarters are in Chicago, has also begun to include “student spotlight” profiles that allow students — many of whom are international — to share their experiences applying to universities.

One student, Motaz Fallata, shared in a student spotlight that he used CollegeAdvisor.com to find resources on applying to college.

In addition, he registered for an account which got him matched with a mentor.

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