Tactics and Strategies for Improving and Sustaining Quality in the Middle East

Transcription

1 Tactics and Strategies for Improving and Sustaining Quality in the Middle East Jane Azurin Acting Education Consul Middle East July Sept 2008 Overview Synopsis of the Middle East (ME) Quality Students Tactics Strategies Key considerations 1

2 AEI Middle East Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE Synopsis of the ME Young populations Unemployment and labour market needs Under-representation Economic diversification (industrial to services and knowledge) Major educational reform, focus on quality Demand for education and capacity building 2

3 Growth Enrolments and Commencements YTD July 2002 to ,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2, Total Commencements Total Enrolments Enrolments Across Sectors by Nationality for YTD July ,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Bahrain Egypt Iran Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Oman Qatar Saudi Syria Turkey UAE Yemen Higher Ed VET ELICOS Schools Other 3

4 Premises Maintaining quality in Australia s higher education is a priority for all stakeholders International students can make a valuable contribution to Australian research, innovation and productivity Valid and positive relationship between higher education system and student quality Shift from volume based student recruitment to quality student recruitment Diversity in the region makes this possible Notions of quality High performing institutions (links to productivity and participation) High quality students (research and innovation) Scholarships volume vs quality I2I, industry relationships Transnational delivery AusLIST Industry capacity Sustainability 4

5 Student quality Study ready Preparedness to study Likelihood of successful completion Contribution to Australia Research Innovation Internationalisation Productivity Tactics which way? 5

6 Have a Middle East Strategy Requires Developing a long term view Clarity on what you want to achieve Definition of who you are, where you fit and what you have to offer Consider Is the Middle East for you or not? Which countries to focus on and how? Key to success = relationships Sending your message (who, how, what) Obtain access to higher quality students Partnerships as two-way streets Build on existing country relationships with Australia Strategies Where is quality found in the ME? Research vs. coursework Priority areas for government and industry Newly established institutions Regulatory environment 6

7 Gulf students Market potential Quality of students Kuwait KSA UAE Qatar Bahrain Oman Oman Bahrain UAE Qatar KSA Kuwait High quality students Sand or rocks? Lower volume but higher quality Iran Jordan Syria Turkey Egypt 7

8 Tactics for implementing your strategy Balance student numbers and quality Partner with institutions with similar research profiles Be prepared to negotiate over time Use relationships to get things done Education Agents Quality relationships AEI support through information sessions Education Agent Training Course 8

9 AEI Market Alerts Read, consider, act Indicators of quality Support to identify opportunities Support to identify suitable partners (profiling of ME institutions) Promotions Quality, quality assurance and international standing Employability Student support services Safety and chaperonage Appropriateness and relevance of images Arabic 9

10 Visiting AEI in the Middle East? Bring your plan Articulate well-defined objectives Support for visit programs Timing and protocols AEI Middle East Strategic Priorities Strategic positioning of Australia as a quality education partner through: 1. G2G 2. Australian industry 3. Building relationships 10

11 Key considerations Following the crowd A strategy that considers quality and a medium to long term view Rocky roads Visiting the region Brand power Balance AEI ME supporting qualitative engagement Intelligence, quality briefings, market analysis Workshops for transnational providers Country information, program visits Key event representation Student pre-departure Australia as a quality research destination Response to enquiries 11

12 Thank you or AEI MENA: 12