RISE May-June 2009 - University of Salford

RISE! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News
UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD
EXCEEDS UK NORM FOR
THE RECRUITMENT OF
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The most recent set of data on international students was recently
released by HESA, and shows some encouraging signs for both UK
Higher Education but especially for the University, with increasing
volumes of international students coming to study at the University of
Salford. The total number of international students in the UK (not
including visiting or exchange students) increased by 3.7% since
2006/07, with a 5.1% increase in EU students and a 3% increase in
students from outside the EU. Impressively, the University’s growth in
the same period was 28.3% for EU students, and 28.1% for non-EU
students, with the total number of international students also
increasing by 28.1%. This increase also led to a 0.2% increase in
market share, with 0.9% of students studying in the UK now at the
University of Salford.
The number of international students in the UK grew in all of the main
study levels, with PGR increasing by 4.7%, PGT by 2.4% and UG by
4.3%. The University also recorded strong increases, but especially in
the PGT category which increased by 35.9%! The number of PGR
students increased by 26.8%, with a 20.2% increase in UG students.
The biggest growth in international students in the UK (from countries
with more than 500 students in the UK) came from Bulgaria (84.5%),
Iraq (77.3%), Romania (69.6%) and Oman (41.5%), with many
countries which have acceded to the EU in the past 5 years (such
as Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland) also showing strong growth.
The University of Salford mirrors this to a certain degree, with the
biggest increases coming in students from Bulgaria (300.0%), Vietnam
(300.0%), and Brunei (100.0%), but also from some of the target
countries to which the international office dedicates special resource,
such as Pakistan (93.8% increase), UAE (85.7% increase), India (85.2%)
and Nigeria (61.5%).
See the table below for more statistical information
As we now approach the end of the first year of this project, which has
primarily focused on information sharing, the project team are eager, in
year two, not only to share the information and the lessons learnt, but
also to develop the Chinese cultural understanding of more staff across
the University. Results from this project will equip staff across the
institution with the confidence to better respond to the needs of
Chinese students, and those students who undertake mobility or
placements in China. These findings will inform staff how to engage
with employers in China, or who are perhaps Chinese but based in the
UK. Work is also planned with partners to establish long-term
collaborative initiatives such as joint curricula and joint delivery (initially
in the areas of business and management and art and design), virtual
student forums and joint research.
For more information on the project please contact Project Manager
Xiang Li at: X.li2@pgr.salford.ac.uk
UK top growth countries
(500+ students)
Bulgaria (+84.5%)
Iraq (+77.3%)
Romania (+69.6%)
Oman (+41.5%)
Kazakhstan (+40.0%)
Lithuania (+33.7%)
Latvia (+31.8%)
Poland (+28.7%)
University of Salford top growth
countries (20+ students)
Bulgaria (+300.0%)
Vietnam (+300.0%)
Brunei (+100.0%)
Pakistan (+93.8%)
UAE (+85.7%)
India (+85.2%)
Malaysia (+81.8%)
Turkey (+66.7%)
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