Recruiting International Students in Higher Education : Representations and Rationales in British Policy

Description

This book offers a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of the UK’s policy on recruiting international students. In a global context of international education policy, it examines changes from New Labour policies under Tony Blair’s Prime Minister’s Initiative, to the more recent Coalition and Conservative Government policies in the International Education Strategy. The research uses a text-based approach to primary research, adopting a critical framework developed by Carol Bacchi (‘what is the problem represented to be’?). The book argues that international student policy can be reduced to reasons for and against recruiting international students; in doing so, students are represented as ambassadors for the UK or tools in its public diplomacy, consumers and generators of reputation, means to get money, and as migrants of questionable legitimacy. These homogenizing representations have the potential to shape international education, implicating academics as agents of policy, and infringing on students’ self-formation. The book will be compelling reading for students and researchers in the fields of education and sociology, as well as those interested in education policy-making. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Introduction (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 1-24 International Higher Education Discourses (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 25-48 International Student Policy in the UK (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 49-82 Putting Discourse Theory into Practice (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 83-98 Influence: A Political Rationale and International Alumni as Ambassadors (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 99-125 Reputation: A Hybrid Educational-Commercial Rationale and Students as Consumers (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 127-161 Income: An Economic Rationale and International Students as Economic Contributors (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 163-198 Immigration: A Rationale Against International Student Recruitment (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 199-225 Conclusion (Sylvie Lomer)....Pages 227-241 Back Matter ....Pages 243-268