| Universities in the UK have been an educational | | | | important role for the UK in trade and diplomatic |
| Mecca for students aspiring for higher education. | | | | terms. |
| However, with passing time the education system in | | | | Twenty-five percent of immigrants to Britain are |
| the UK is lagging behind in the modern global setup. | | | | students and the number is bound to rise in coming |
| Many OECD countries are catching up with the UK's | | | | years. The influx of international students is mainly |
| education standards as the UK has not been able to | | | | the result of marketing efforts of higher educational |
| raise its education standards with needs of time. | | | | institutions. UK universities fiercely sell their courses to |
| The education sector of the UK can be divided into | | | | international students. Each foreign students brings |
| three main categories: | | | | around 15,000 pounds in the way of fees and living |
| School Education | | | | expenses. UK universities continue to play an |
| Further Education | | | | important role in an uncertain economy. International |
| Higher Education | | | | students pay full tuition fees while enabling |
| An opinion poll commissioned by public universities | | | | universities to provide subsidized education to local |
| clearly indicates that UK residents back investment in | | | | students. In a scenario where government funding is |
| universities to maintain quality of research and | | | | felt inadequate, international students bring a bounty |
| teaching. The public clearly understands that high | | | | of funds that can be used by universities to improve |
| quality universities are important for the development | | | | their education and research standards to stay ahead |
| of individuals, society and economy of the country. | | | | in global competition. |
| Universities heavily rely on external funding to provide | | | | UK universities now generate about 59 billion pounds |
| high quality student experiences, deliver world class | | | | and have left behind sectors such as agricultural, |
| research and develop highly skilled graduates needed | | | | pharmaceutical, advertising and the postal industry. |
| for the development of a nation. In a tight financial | | | | The importance of the education sector in the UK is |
| environment, the government is finding it tough to | | | | increasing gradually. The focus of UK universities is |
| provide adequate funds to universities for their | | | | research and teaching. Some universities are, |
| research activities and innovation in ways of learning. | | | | however, research intensive and transfer knowledge |
| In today's economy, the importance of higher | | | | to businesses and other organizations. This procedure |
| education extends beyond teaching. UK universities | | | | is called knowledge transfer, and UK universities use |
| play an important role in the country's economy. UK | | | | expertise and the facilities of these business |
| universities continue to enrich and impart knowledge | | | | communities in return. |
| and understanding to students globally. International | | | | Governments in different parts of the UK are |
| students studying in the UK bring a large amount of | | | | encouraging universities to seek private funding. |
| revenue, equivalent to 3 billion pounds, to the | | | | Universities establish links with businesses and |
| country's economy. International students are | | | | industries in several disciplines in long and short-term |
| important for the success of the UK's higher | | | | research. Some universities have also established |
| education system. They contribute approximately 8% | | | | regional consultancy agencies to foster ties with the |
| to higher education budgets and also contribute to | | | | industry. UK universities are expected to play a |
| local economies through their off-campus spending. | | | | greater role in the UK's knowledge-driven economy. |
| These students studying in the UK are likely to | | | | The global completion and requirement of funds will |
| become political leaders, captains of industry and | | | | push universities to look for alternative ways of |
| opinion formers of the future. These links play an | | | | funding in future. |