The University of Stirling and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in the UK are investing in partnerships to boost international student numbers. While Stirling is teaming up with INTO University Partnerships to open international study centres, LJMU has reinforced its ties with Study Group and is building a new international campus.
The University of Stirling’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerry McCormac, said: “The partnership will achieve a step change across the university in relation to our international student experience.”
By partnering with INTO, which has enrolled almost 40,000 students to date, to open the two new campuses in Stirling and London this September, the Scotland-based university is demonstrating that it is embracing change for its future international students.
“Our international students are not just an add-on to our university, they’re an asset”
LJMU also has ambitious plans to up its non-EU numbers from 5% to 15% by 2021, its Pro Vice-Chancellor, Edward Harcourt, told The PIE News.
Speaking about the relationship with Study Group, Harcourt said that the university has a “similar approach to internationalism”. “Our international students are not just an add-on to our university, they’re an asset,” he said.
“I’ve always been impressed with the approach Study Group has taken. They very much promote the university brand, rather than joint branding or pushing their own brand like many other pathway providers.”
Study Group’s Managing Director, Higher Education UK & Europe, James Pitman told The PIE News: “Liverpool is a globally recognised destination for international students, and LJMU has a wonderful brand.”
“Their senior management team have a lot of innovative angles and strong ideas in international marketing and business learning, so the partnership is multifaceted,” he added.
LJMU will be primarily targeting South East Asian countries, and its new Liverpool campus will open in 2017.
“China continues to be the largest market, Malaysia’s been the bellwether market, but Myanmar has huge potential having been shut out for the past four to five years with a lot of political transition, we’re really expecting strong growth,” said Harcourt.
