Further Education recruiting in Global Markets

UK Naric Conference November 2010

Introductions

Martin M BinnsHead of International

Bradford College

The world has become smaller!

Leading the Way – 2007-2010

Mission

To help students in the region, nationally

and internationally achieve their potential

and make a rewarding and positive

contribution to their own communities

International Centre

Head of International

Head of Region

(Middle East)

Head of Region

(East & Far East)

Head of Region (Africa,

Americas & Caribbean)

Head of Region

(South Asia)

Head of Collaboration

Bradford College - Mixed economy college offering FE & HE

•• 23,000 students

•• Around 700 international students (Some FE but mostly HE)

•• HE - Edexcel HNDs, Foundation degrees and Bachelor degrees, Postgraduate Masters

•• Main areas are Business, Computing, Law & Engineering

•• English Language Centre

•• International Projects and Collaboration

International Targets

Commercial Activity and Consultancy

Student Recruitment

Collaboration, Capacity Building and Projects

What’s your USP?

• Kite marks CoVEs, Employer Engagement• 157 Group – Russell Group• Beacon or AoC Charter • OFSTED grades• Healthy college, work life balance• Offer FE and HE • English Language (British Council accredited)• Location• Quality• Value for money

Project Funding Methodology

Third stream income-beyond Local Authority Funding &

HEFCE

(Capped)

₤₤₤$$$

Commercial Full Cost

Match Funded

Capacity Building

Definition:

“The process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organisations and communities need to survive, adapt, thrive in the fast changing world”.

External Funding

• PMI2 – Match funding• UIERI- Match funding• World Bank (ADB)• UKTI• Commercial partner sponsored• Equipment suppliers• Grant applications e.g. scoping missions

General Marketing • International website• Alumni-word of mouth• Reputation• Agents in country• Exhibitions-in country• Private meetings• Promotional seminars and events in country• Schools overseas visits• Scoping missions• E-mail communications through client database• Monthly newsletter – International• Student events • Contact with Ministries in country• Large NGOs in country

International Projects Activity•• More than thirty years experience of collaboration and in

country delivery

•• Student recruitment

•• Consultancy and Capacity Building

•• Secondment of staff

•• Teacher exchanges

•• Seminar speakers

•• Working with equipment suppliers (export)

•• Erasmus

International Projects

International Activity: Higher Level Skills

Turkey Syria Vietnam South Africa

Successful Project Proposal

Quality kite marks, OFSTED or subject specialisms etc.

Benefits• Individual staff CPD• Opportunities for short course development and

corporate training• Reputation and relationship building (political)• Grant aid support for new market development• Opportunities for articulation• Internationalisation of student body and also curriculum• Staff and student exchanges• Scoping missions - exploratory• Contact with Ministries in country and key stakeholders• Large NGOs in country

Benefits to the College – why do it?•• Supports the international strategy of the College

•• Promotion of college brand and brand UK

•• Staff (CPD) and student exchange opportunities

•• Internationalising the curriculum

•• International collaboration and partnership opportunities, also working with other UK colleges in consortia on larger scale projects

•• Diversity of student body

•• 3rd stream income and growth opportunities (through articulation etc)

•• Employer engagement international opportunities

•• Opportunities to engage with international education ministers etc

•• Progression from FE to HE programmes & HE Level to Level

New Market Development • HESA Statistics• UK Naric for educational infrastructure and qualifications• Alumni• Agents in country• Attend exhibitions-in country-££££• Private meetings• Promotional seminars and events in country• British Council market intelligence• Scoping missions- UKTI , MEA • E-mail communications through client database• Review in country strategic plans• Speakers from teaching faculties • Contact with Ministries in country• Partnering through Erasmus, Leonardo etc.

Challenges to the College

•• Resources – taking key staff away from their primary duties and funding speculative work

•• Time-scales – very long on some projects (before contracts signed)

•• Expertise – identifying international “champions” across college with diverse skills to be able to work in country

•• Identifying the client need (interpretation)

•• Sourcing funding (investment up front)

Challenges to the College cont..•• UK Borders and Immigration -Tier 4 and Points Based System

•• Highly Trusted Sponsor status

••Changing landscape and interpretation of regulations

••Maintaining HTS-retention, attendance monitoring etc.

••Bogus applications vs. genuine

Impact of UKBA,Tier 4 and HTS

Academic session 2010/11• Administration workload is exhaustive• UK Naric is preferred for admissions equivalences• CAS offered with no guarantees• Tracking of applications (on-line SMS etc.)• Attendance monitoring• Student applications on the doorstep!• Complicated for those already in the UK• Student visit visa (6 month period)

Applications increased by more than 50% to date.

Conclusion•• Mutual benefits – up-skilling both

partners in different ways

•• College as innovator

•• Shared vision of improving global employability skills and opportunities through exploring different practice and embracing new technologies

•• Strengthening links between nations (political)

•• Strengthening brand UK in the international arena

Thank you m.binns@bradfordcollege.ac.ukj.wallace@bradfordcollege.ac.uk