Protecting work and study abroad after 2012

Jim Coleman, Chair, UCML

2

Assistantships• November 2010: British Council funding for assistantship

scheme suspended• Effective campaign• Funding now guaranteed to end of Comprehensive

Spending Review (2014/15) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/101222-0001.htm#10122246000552

• So what made the campaign effective?

3

Assistantships• Direct contact with Government Departments• Lobbying and letter writing – individuals writing to

Government and their MPs, not rent-a-mob or petition• Press coverage• Raised in Parliament (Baroness Coussins, All-Party

Parliamentary Group) • Robust data – cost £747,409, i.e. £126 a head• Robust evidence of importance and value

4

Assistantships• Above all, a single clear message• No tribalism (Worton report 2009, Language People

1988)

5

Numbers and trends• Whole-programme and within-programme (degree

mobility vs. credit mobility); data difficulties• Globally

– 3.3 million in 2008 (OECD), +65% since 2000– 3.43 million in 2009 (UNESCO), +75% since 2000– Increasing 10+% a year, expected to double by 2020– But currently below 2% of students worldwide

6

Numbers and trends• Erasmus outgoers• EU steady increase, boosted by

– EU accession countries– Inclusion of work placements from 2006/07

• Figures adjusted retrospectively to include work placements

• UK decline 2000-2006 then increase– Especially by inclusion of assistantships

7

Erasmus outgoers (percentage change)

00/01-

01/02

01/02-

02/03

02/03-

03/04

03/04-

04/05

04/05-

05/06

05/06-

06/07

06/07-

07/08

07/09-

08/09

08/09-

09/10

Total +3.91 +7.39 +9.38 +6.23 +7.21 +3.18 +14.67 +5.33 +8.29

UK -6.06 -6.16 -5.25 -4.30 -1.15 +1.46 +42.06 +8.66 +7.43

8

Erasmus outgoers• In some countries (e.g. Spain, Finland, Austria) more

than 10% of graduates have Erasmus experience• In UK, fewer than 2% - only Romania and Croatia do

worse• Erasmus launch year 1987/88: UK largest contributor

with 28.5% of total• But 2009/10 sixth, 5.5% of total• UK has highest share of work placements – nearly one-

third of 2009/10 total of 11,723 outgoers

9

Erasmus outgoers• Language students only 15% of total Erasmus numbers• In UK only, consistently 40+%• Since inclusion of work placements/assistantships,

nearly half (48.28% 2008/09)

Therefore• Disappointing national picture, but• Distinctive CV entry for UK graduates• Especially for non-specialist linguists

10

AssistantshipsAssistantships peaked in mid-1990s at over 2,500, then

declined, and are now rising again

2001/02 2004/05 2007/08 2009/10

1800 2007 2211 2385

11

Total UK outgoers 2009/10• Erasmus students 8,053• Erasmus placements 3,670• Non-Erasmus assistants 390• Comenius assistants 102• Non-European mobility 4,500 approx.• Total 16,715 approx.

Thanks to David Hibler, British Council and Joan-Anton Carbonell, Kingston University

12

Current student fees (England)Regulations on what student pays to home university• Full-year Erasmus: no fee• Full-year work/study abroad: maximum 50% fee (see

OFFA guidance p.10)• 10+ weeks full-time study at home university OR less

than 30 weeks total current and previous years NOT full-time UK study (sandwich rule): 100% fee

13

Current income (England)Regulations on what HEFCE pays to UK HEI• Price-band: Band C for language students, other price-bands for

non-language specialists• Erasmus study OR combined Erasmus study+work placement:

100% price-band + 50% of student fee• Erasmus work placement: 50% price-band + 50% of student fee• Non-Erasmus work placement: 50% price-band• Non-Erasmus study: 100% price-band• Students failing sandwich rule: 100% price-band

Part of block grant; reimbursement of student fees also retrospective; money goes to HEI not Department

14

Current costs (Home HEI)• Administration and management• Online support• Site visits• Arranging work placements• Vacation grants, travel grants• Enrolment fees (e.g. Russia, Jordan, China, Japan)• Supervision and teaching of incoming exchange

students

15

Current income (student)• Erasmus grant €200-400 a month (average €254)• Assistants €700-1000 a month Europe (may also get

Erasmus grant), $1700 Canada, 3000-4000RMB China• Work placements not always unpaid• Study abroad higher rate loan, work placements lower

rate loan• Lower-income students Local Authority support for travel

and insurance

16

Benefits of work and study abroad• Academic• Cultural• Intercultural• Linguistic• Personal• Professional (graduate employability)

See Shaping the Future of Languages: Internationalisation

17

Benefits of work and study abroad• Residence abroad enhances employability• A factor in landing first and subsequent jobs for over

70% of language graduates, a significant factor for over 30%, the determining factor for about 10%

• Skills gained during residence abroad come in useful at work for nine out of ten language graduates

• Academic mobility a good predictor for a satisfying international career

18

Research• QMUL: 2 years from September 2011, work placements

and skills development • Southampton: 2.5 years from February 2011, language

learning • Portsmouth: long-term impact on French graduates of

semester/year abroad in Senegal

19

Government backing• ‘Businesses say there aren’t enough students with experience of

languages, different cultures and the wider world. British companies want to export abroad but one of the problems they raise with us is that British students don’t have foreign languages and an experience of living in another country. One of my aims is to try and encourage our undergraduates and postgraduates to study abroad and the best way to do that is to ensure it counts towards a British degree. There has to be time overseas doing a programme which a British university recognises and validates. It would enrich the outlook of British students and make them more employable’. (David Willetts, 2010)

20

Government backingSpeaking in February 2011 to a conference on Europe

and the wider world, David Willetts said: • ‘The options available for UK students to spend time in

Europe as part of their degree are particularly worth pursuing, and there are real benefits in terms of gaining the skills that employers will value’

• David Willetts suggested to the European Commissioner that Erasmus should be extended worldwide

21

Employability• 2011 Eurobarometer survey found that work experience

was deemed a crucial asset by 87% of graduate recruiters, while nearly half of all companies with considerable international dealings believed that foreign language skills are the most important skills for the future.

• A graduate recruiter: ‘We prefer the courses that include some time spent living abroad… we do prefer that they have had some in-country experience certainly before they come here.’

22

Employability• CBI: ‘Language skills and an ability to work in a multi-

cultural environment are also valuable in an increasingly globalised workplace. Foreign language proficiency adds significantly to a candidate’s portfolio of skills, not just in terms of conversational ability, but also general cultural awareness and sensitivity.’

23

Employability• Council for Industry and Higher Education: ‘Graduates

who have international experience are highly employable because they have demonstrated that they have drive, resilience and inter-cultural sensitivities as well as language skills.’

• 2010 HEFCE study: ‘Study abroad can significantly boost the chances of a student's success in later life, and bring benefits to the UK's knowledge economy.’

24

Raising awareness and concern• BBC online 30 March 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12893629 • Times Higher Education 7 April 2011

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=415697

• The Linguist June/July 2011• House of Lords debate 31 March 2011 • House of Lords oral question 27 April 2011

25

UCML Lobbying

• Oral question to David Willetts at British Academy Language Matters More and More event

• Letters to David Willetts, HEFCE• Co-signatory BUTEX letter• Meeting with BIS• Meeting with HEFCE 6 July

26

What can UCML members do?• Wait for the White Paper, due this month

– Will the market bear year abroad fees of £4,500?– Will HEFCE continue to pay 50% of student fees

once these have tripled?– Will HEFCE continue to pay price-band funding for

bands A and B?

27

What can UCML members do?• Lobby actively and individually

• Within your university• With your MP• With BIS

28

What arguments?• UK needs internationally competent graduates• UK participation in work and study abroad is already

lower than competitors in Europe and beyond• Benefits to UK economy• Increased costs to students will deter them from

language degrees and other four-year programmes• Increased costs to universities will discourage them from

supporting work and study abroad

29

What arguments?• Comparative costs already persuade some students to

choose the safer Erasmus option (e.g. Spain not Mexico, Germany not Russia on Joint Degrees)

• UK needs global graduates: good opportunity to level the field between Erasmus/non-Erasmus

• Placements arguably more significant for UK economy: good opportunity to level the field between study and placements

• Big return for a modest investment• …

30

The bottom lineUCML urges the Government to agree • that financial support for work and study abroad beyond 2011/12

is essential• that support should embrace not just European placements and

assistantships, but all destinations, notably China, India, Japan, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

The only funding solution which will not be a disincentive to students and/or to English universities is one which keeps the contribution of both to about the current level. Anything else could influence student choice away from four-year language degrees – something the country, in a globalising economy, simply cannot afford.