In developing stories, about 15 universities in the United Kingdom have announced personnel layoffs and course closures due to the significant decline in overseas postgraduate student enrollments since the beginning of the year—as the government of the Island nation maintains its stance on reducing the number of international students. There are growing concerns that undergraduate student recruitment may also decline in the upcoming academic year, nonetheless, aggravated by the UK’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The country’s tertiary education has witnessed universities ranging from prestigious Russell Group’s to mid-tier and Scottish institutions, issuing alerts about potential course reductions and staff layoffs. Robert Gordon University (RGU) recently introduced a voluntary severance scheme in the face of staff redundancy due to its financial difficulties because of a notable decline in international student enrollments, a consequence of post-Brexit alterations in UK immigration policies. RGU cited escalating cost pressures and a considerable reduction in public funding as contributing factors. The RGU has experienced considerable expansion in recent years, due to international students from Nigeria and India. RGU adopted links with Nigeria and had an active Nigerian student population both on campus and in Alumni, with various scholarships and funding for Nigerian students.
However, certain higher education institutions, particularly those established after the conversion of polytechnics to universities in 1992, appear to have experienced remarkable growth last year. These universities, notably targeting countries outlined in the UK government’s International Education Strategy such as India and Nigeria, witnessed substantial increases in non-EU international student enrollments. For instance, the University of Hertfordshire has reported a significant surge in international student numbers, making up over 45% of its total student intake. However, it is likely that in the coming years, it may join other universities in reporting financial difficulties due to the decline in international student numbers.
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