University challenge

Mike Boxall

The Economist

27 August 2010

SIR – You were right that too many universities see the international student market as the panacea for their domestic ills (“Hustling spires”, August 7th). In a recent survey of British university heads we found that over two-thirds cited increasing their international presence among their top priorities. It is questionable whether these ambitions can be supported, or indeed whether the fruits of doing so are as profitable as the numbers suggest. But more importantly, why do universities continue to seek ways to subsidise inherently uneconomic ways of working rather than rethinking outmoded business models that have changed little in 50 years?

Mike Boxall
PA Consulting Group
London

You can read the article in full here 

PA Consulting undertook its online survey in June and July this year, inviting 155 institution heads to take part and receiving 43 responses. You can read the report in full here.

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