Synopsis

This presentation focuses on a comparison of internationalisation policy in higher education in the UK and China focusing particularly on educational and immigration policies relating to student mobilities. In the UK there is a noticeable dislocation between discourses of government policy on attracting international students and the actual policies which are being enacted. This is contrasted with China where government policy on economic development, people circulation and higher education are all in lockstep. The number of international students studying in China has risen substantially over the last five years, whilst in the UK, numbers are stagnating and government policy on international students and immigration is building barriers to incoming student mobility rather than smoothing it. The presentation considers the symbolic significance of these dislocations and alignments in educational policy and their impact on global higher education.

Biography of Speaker

Catherine Montgomery is Professor of International Higher Education in the Department of Education at the University of Bath. Catherine’s research focuses on internationalisation of higher education and she has a particular interest in transnational higher education in China and East Asia. Catherine’s recent work focuses on international higher education mobilities, mainly with reference to flows of international students and considers what this can tell us about the changing landscapes of global higher education. Catherine has recently been appointed to the role of Academic Director of International Partnerships at the University of Bath. In this new role, she is engaging with the strategic development, coordination and delivery of worldwide partnerships and supporting faculties and departments in identifying, developing and maintaining research, teaching and knowledge-exchange links and partnerships with institutions overseas.