Developing a National S trategy for Outward S tudent M obility

1. Developing a National Strategy for Outward Student Mobility Stephanie Smith UK Higher Education International Unit

2. Structure • Background • Rationale • Where We Are Now • Barriers to Mobility • National Strategy for Outward Mobility • Consultation • Questions and Next Steps

3. What We Do • Represent all UK universities internationally and promote UK higher education overseas • Policy and programme work • Supports sector engagement in European Union and Bologna Process policy debates • Close working relationships with key stakeholders

4. Background • Joint Steering Group on Outward Student Mobility established last year • Tasked with identifying barriers to outward student mobility in the UK • Group recommended development of a national strategy for outward student mobility • Outward Mobility Programme established earlier this year, run by UK HE International Unit

5. Outward Student Mobility Programme • New programme – started May 2013 • Government support - funded by HEFCE and BIS • Managed by dedicated team within IU • Work with higher education sector and partner organisations working in international higher education to develop and implement UK strategy for Outward Mobility

6. Where Are We Now? Imbalance of inward/outward mobility: • OECD data indicates that for every 15 international students in the UK, we have one UK student studying abroad • In 2010/2011, Erasmus ‘sending’ figures were • UK: 8,577 • Spain: 36,183 • France: 31,747 • Germany: 30,274

7. Barriers to Mobility For Institutions • Inflexible curricula • Concerns over academic progression and recognition related issues • Lack of strategic commitment For Students • Lack of student awareness • Lack of linguistic competence or confidence • Financial support

8. Why Does it Matter? • 41% of UK employers dissatisfied with UK graduates’ international cultural awareness (Building for Growth, CBI, 2011) • 54% of UK employers dissatisfied with UK graduates’ foreign language skills (Building for Growth, CBI, 2011) • Employers value student mobility and international experience (Global Graduates, CIHE and AGR, 2011)

9. Student Experience • While 50% of students across the UK plan to work in London and 21% plan to work overseas, only 1% plan to work in Wales, 2% plan to work in the north-east of England and 4% plan to work in the Midlands The UK Graduate Careers Survey 2013, High Fliers Research

10. European Context • Around 16 Billion Euros agreed for Erasmus + • Of total financial envelope, 77.5% will go to education and training and 3.5% will go to the new loan guarantee facility • Bologna Process mobility target of 20% by 2020 • Diploma Supplement (and HEAR in UK) • ECTS

11. Nation Level Activity Scotland • Developing Scotland’s Global Citizens Wales • Government Policy Statement on Higher Education published June 2013 Northern Ireland • DELNI: Higher Education Strategy published 2012 • Working Parties Established to take this forward

12. Programme Objectives Overarching aim: • To increase the proportion of UK students with some international experience How we will do this? • Consult the sector in order to create a national strategy for outward student mobility • Support the sector to build capacity in this area

13. Priority Areas

14. HEIServices Range of services for higher education institutions to include: • Strategic advice and consultancy • Practical toolkits • Outward mobility audits • Other services highlighted in the strategy consultation

15. Website • Signposting to funding options • Links to other key websites • Policy overview • Country profiles • Other examples highlighted in the strategy consultation

16. Timeline • Strategy developed and consulted on over summer • Publication before start of the next academic year • Stakeholder engagement plan • Delivery over next 2-3 years – and beyond! • Strategy and targets reviewed regularly

17. Questions?