Olympics inspires showcase of best of British education

Taking forward the London 2012 slogan, ‘Inspiring the Next Generation’ was the theme at the Global Business Summit on Education held at the British Business Embassy as 120 UK and international delegates explored how sport, science and technology can lead young people to further study.

As UK institutions announced plans to expand their international operations, the event showcased the best of British education, providing a unique platform for educators from across Britain and around the world to discuss global education challenges, promoting international collaboration and increased trade in ideas and services.

Steve Cram, former world record holder and Olympic silver medallist, and Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell spoke on how sport can inspire young people to stay in education. They were joined by Wing Commander Andy Green, the pilot of world’s fastest car, the Bloodhound SSC, which is used to encourage schoolchildren to study science and technology.

Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green said: “The UK’s education sector generates over £14 billion in exports annually and is respected around the world as a global innovator. New partnerships forged here will not just generate new business, but help shape the high-tech skills we need to drive progress and fuel growth.”

Among international businesses announced on the day was the New College Nottingham International Lifestyles Academy (NILA), a collaboration between New College Nottingham (a UK Further Education College) and the Batra Group, which will be opened in New Delhi in September.

The Academy will deliver higher level vocational education for up to 1,000 students and will be the first of its kind in India. It will focus on the delivery of a lifestyles curriculum and advanced English and teacher training qualifications. It is hoped through Batra Group’s large portfolio, businesses will also provide practical experience and enable progression routes for learners.

The intention is to replicate this model across India to cover different vocational strands. The project is expected to create over 50 new jobs in the first academy in India. Sri Lanka’s private sector could learn from this example and look to implementing such initiatives to develop the island’s vocational education sector.

As Sri Lanka steps up its education and training agenda by inviting foreign education providers to set up campuses in the island, there is no doubt that UK education providers are among those ready and willing to establish a presence here. It is interesting to note that currently around 50% of the undergraduate degrees awarded via private education providers in Sri Lanka are delivered in partnership with 26 UK universities.

Annually, over 50 UK universities send delegations to Sri Lanka in order to make contact with prospective Sri Lankan students. In order to have allow smoother transition into UK higher education, approximately 8,000 young people obtain UK school qualifications through the British Council per year.

The UK is home to the top four universities in Europe and four of the global top 10 while also being a leading innovator in distance and e-learning material and programmes, the Open University, UK being the world’s largest distance learning university. Such distance and e-learning programmes have made their entrance into Sri Lanka, a recent example being Edinburgh Napier University’s MBA delivered via BMS.

Another recent example of the continued interest shown by UK higher education providers in entering the Sri Lankan market is the partnership between Plymouth University and the National School for Business Management (NSBM), a relationship closely supported by the British Council, in August this year.

Northumbria University is an illustration of how to maximise the potential in the Sri Lankan market. Offering their programmes via different local partners has worked well as they have capitalised on the expertise of partners in different industries. In particular, the School of Design’s partnership with the Academy of Design (AOD) Colombo has seen the University solidify its presence in the market. In July this year, the AOD and the Northumbria School of Design established the Colombo campus as the South Asian partner for the Northumbria School of Design operations in the region.

The UK is also committed to supporting Sri Lanka with access to professional skills qualifications, with 35,000 Sri Lankans acquiring a UK qualification through the British Council last year. Sri Lanka already has more CIMA qualified students than any other country apart from the UK. Some of the other popular qualifications are CIM, ACCA, BCS, ABE, and City & Guilds. The UK’s professional qualifications are recognised in every country in the world and are in huge demand by those seeking to improve their career prospects.

The high quality and effectiveness of UK teaching equipment, materials and methods are recognised in global markets and are under constant development to meet international requirements. Furthermore, they can be readily tailored to meet the needs of any market, including Sri Lanka.

The UK holds key exhibitions and conferences across all parts of the sector, from educational supplies, software and ICT to e-learning and corporate training. They include BETT (educational ICT) every January and The Education Show (teaching and learning goods and services) every March. Sri Lankan companies may also be interested in UK events held within the region including BES Asia Forum (educational ICT) held in Malaysia this October and International and Private Schools Education Forum (IPSEF) planned for Hong Kong in November this year and Dubai and Malaysia in March 2013.

Sri Lankan organisations with an interest in establishing partnerships with UK education and skills providers, educational suppliers etc., or require information about exhibitions and conferences, can contact the British Council (www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka) and the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) team at the British High Commission in Colombo (http://ukinsrilanka.fco.gov.uk/en/business/).