Launch
June 2004
The
long term forecast for the international market in UK higher education is
for huge growth, with over 50% of international students expected to come
from China and India by 2025.
The
Wales International Consortium is co-funded by the Higher Education Funding
Council for Wales and the British Council Wales, as well as being supported
by the Welsh Assembly Government and member institutions .
WIC’s
Director, Virginia West, said, “The Consortium is an excellent example of
a single sector working together with collaborative strength, for shared
benefits for the whole of Wales . The Wales International Consortium is
involved in collaborative international marketing strategies in order to
promote the superb quality of Wales higher education to international students,
and the diversity of study and career opportunities available.
Wales offers an enormous range of courses and locations as well as a rich
cultural diversity that is unique and impressive”.
“Our
role is to communicate the benefits and opportunities of studying in Wales
and increase market share for Wales , in an increasingly competitive international
market. Many of our institutions already have strong international links
and the Consortium will enable a sharing of knowledge, expertise and best
practice to achieve common objectives.”
The
Wales International Consortium will promote Wales as a high profile, attractive
study destination and develop the international market share for Wales .
The Consortium represents ALL higher education in Wales and includes the
University of Wales Aberystwyth, the University of Wales Bangor, the University
of Wales Swansea, the University of Wales Lampeter, University of Wales
College Newport, University of Wales College of Medicine, the University
of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cardiff University, University of Glamorgan,
North East Wales Institute, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama,
Swansea Institute of Higher Education and Trinity College Carmarthen.
The
Wales International Consortium was originally established as a collaborative
response to the Prime Minister’s Initiative, launched in June 1999 to build
long-term, sustainable relations between the UK and other countries through
education and training. The new Consortium actively embraces the ethos of
cultural diversity and innovative approaches to education. Recent changes
in higher education funding policies have created new opportunities for
institutions to develop flexible funding initiatives and the Consortium
represents a strategic response to income generation, shared resources,
collaborative strength and shared benefits .
By representing the whole of Wales ’s higher education in the international
market, the Consortium will enable international students to access Wales
higher education, maximise their study and career opportunities and graduate
as international ambassadors for Wales . The Consortium ensures that all
international students applying to study in Wales are offered a place on
a suitable course, with respect to particular academic potential and interests.
The
hugely successful launch (Wednesday 5 May 2004 ) was well attended by a
range of international experts, academics, Assembly Ministers, VIPs and
international students plus representatives from the British Council and
international embassies. The overwhelming attendance emphasises the commitment
to collaboration shared by everyone involved, and epitomises the ethos of
the Wales International Consortium.
Photos from Launch