POSTGRADUATE MOBILITY

Professor G R TomlinsonUniversity of Sheffield, UK

4th International Conference on Postgraduate Education (ICPE-4)

Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaNovember 2010

A few messages :• International postgraduate research (PGR) students

are essential for the success of an economy (worth >£600 million per annum to the UK economy direct – much more indirect)

• They contribute to the growth of the knowledge economy and enhance / motivate the research output of Universities, supporting aspirations of ‘world-class’

• The need for trained doctoral level staff is growing in the global economy, (India, China, Nigeria, Malaysia)

• Have we got the ‘best’ models for sustaining postgraduate mobility?

Some challenges that institutions face with regards to international delivery:

• Affordability• Flexibility• Supervision / infrastructure• Supply and demand regarding subjects• Immigration / visa issues

Where are the leading destination countries for international HE students at all levels of study : Destination Country Numbers (2007)US 600,000UK 360,000Germany 260,000France 240,000Australia 210,000Japan 126,000Russia 90,000China 80,000Canada 72,000New Zealand 41,000

However, we might observe a world where there is likely to be :

• more intense international competition

• more diverse education ‘products’ and a wider variety of delivery mechanisms

• more varied perceptions of the benefits of HE

• greater discrimination

•influence of the ‘digital world’

•influence of the private sector re priorities and business models

•changing nature of the doctorate (split site, professional, jointly awarded …)

Attractiveness of Country destinations favoured by international PGR students :

Trends in Postgraduate Research in UK (HESA data)Country 2005/6 2008/9

China 4850 5210

USA 3175 3610

Germany 2285 2965

Greece 3115 2700

Malaysia 1785 2400

India 1780 2140

Canada 1250 1390

France 1310 1350

Ireland 1195 1305

Saudi Arabia 850 1290

Taiwan 1215 1255

Thailand 1035 1210

Japan 880 675

Hong Kong 755 625

Libya 495 1000

Nigeria 675 975

Note: Total PGR in 08/09 was 54,730

Areas of StudySubject Area 2005/6 2008/9

Engineering & Technology 8305 9365

Social Sciences 5600 6305

Physical Sciences 4125 5190

Biological Sciences 3820 4960

Business Studies 3270 3995

Education 2615 2660

Medicine & Dentistry 2360 2935

Subjects allied to Medicine 1795 2485

International PGR Students – relative perception of reputation1=Very poor2= Poor3 = Good4= Very good

So what are the major factors influencing PGR Students to be mobile?

Note : Above is for international students in the UK

What might be other key factors?

What about Funding?International PGR Students in the UK

• Students own personal funds 48%• Student scholarship from home 15%• International scholarships 0.5%

UK Support :• Fee waivers 26.5%• UK scholarships and foundations 3.5%

Percentage of PGRs supported by their home government or employer :

Country Highest %age support

Saudi Arabia 70

Libya 66

Mexico 60

Oman 57

Thailand 51

Malaysia 51

Egypt 50

What is driving global demand?

• Fast growth of the provision in lower and middle income countries with a lack of research infrastructure for staff development

• Increasing investment in research• Competitive international employment

market and its access

What might be the barriers?

• Inflexible delivery • Inadequate funding support (including access

to part-time work)• What is the doctorate degree?• Quality of the student experience

Flexible Doctorates:

JARD – Jointly Awarded Research DegreeARAP – A*Star Research Attachment

Programme

JARD :• Developed in partnership with UPM and is a PhD programme

with a high degree of flexibility• The scheme offers an award (officially on the certificate) from

two world class universities• Up to 18 months is spent at both UPM and the UoS (minimum

of 12 months)• Local fees are paid for the duration of the study period at

each University• List of ‘supervisors’ and research areas / key researchers

available to UPM to ensure quality co-supervision• Jointly owned IPR (in equal proportion)• Visiting Professor Scheme

ARAP : A*Research Attachment Programme

• Developed in partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) in Singapore

• A 4 year PhD programme with the PhD awarded by the UoS• Students typically spend up to 2 years at an A*Star

Research Institute in Singapore and up to 2 years in UoS• When students are in Singapore, A*Star pays a stipend.

When the students are in Sheffield, a scholarship is provided.

• IPR is jointly shared• Scheme is only open to UK / European students