Burma
Dr Joanna NewmanDirector
UK Higher Education International Unit
30th November 2012
UK HE International Unit
• Mission: To represent the UK higher education sector internationally and to empower, with skills and knowledge, the sector to secure maximum value from international opportunities.
• Our priorities:– Build capacity of UK HE sector to capture international opportunities– Shape international policy– Represent UK HE abroad– Provide market intelligence
Burma’s reengagement in 2012
April 2012
David Cameron visits Burma
Training Gateway joins delegation
June 2012
Aung Sang Suu Kyi visits UK
‘Pledge to Burma’ launched
July 2012 Training Gateway represents IU on trade
mission to Burma
Photo: Cameron arrives in April
Student mobility from Burma
2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/110
50
100
150
200
250
300 •Relatively static at around 250 per annum
•Opportunities for growth as a result of greater UK sector engagement in Burma
•Challenge around English-language levels
•Scholarships available e.g. Prospect Burma
TNE opportunities
• Some TNE activity pre-2012:– 2010/11: 245 students registered on the University of Greenwich BSc
Business Information Technology degree
– Oxford Brookes/ACCA partnership
• Regional hubs – Burmese studentsto Malaysia and Singapore?
• Distance learning –existing provision lowquality.
Photo: Students use an internet
cafe
Government prioritiesShort term (within 12 months)
•University exchange programmes–Students–Academic staff–Management
• Visits by foreign institutions to Burmeseuniversities to discuss models of collaboration
• In-country English-language training– Government personnel– School teachers and university faculty– Students
Photo: Burmese students from Dagon
University
Government prioritiesLong term (next 3 years and onwards)
•“Centres of excellence” to build research capacity and train lecturers in:
–University of Yangon–University of Bassein–Dagon University–University of Mandalay
• Foreign-led new universities
• Maximise engagement with Erasmus Mundus programmes
Photo: Burmese students from Dagon University
Scoping visit 2013
• Funding from FCO for visit to Burma in 2013, to meet Ministry of Education and universities
• Aim to identify how UK can feedinto Burma’s ComprehensiveEducation Sector Review(CESR)
• With Burmese universities,explore opportunities for:
– Staff and student exchanges– Capacity-building partnerships– TNE
Today’s event
• Approaches HEIs are taking/planning with Burma
• How the IU and Training Gateway can support these
• Obstacles to engagement
• Intelligence to be gathered on 2013 Scoping Visit