Bis research paper number 128 The wider benefits of international higher education in the uk

Case study: I4 
Indian alumnus I4 had originally studied engineering but went into the media industry, 
initially working largely backstage and behind the camera for 10 years. In order to 
support his career shift into the business side, and in the absence of postgraduate 
taught courses in film in India, he came to Bournemouth University. He was attracted by 
the 1-year structure and practical course content. His grandfather had traded through an 
office in London, and his parents were in education, so he inherently believed there 
would be value in a Masters, in career terms, and funded his studies through an 
educational loan. 
He lived in a hall of residence which was segregated in a different wing to UK nationals, 
and found most of his informal socialising was therefore with other international 
students, and he was President of the Society for People from the Sub-continent. He 
also worked part-time at Debenhams, although hid this from his family as they would 
31 

---

The Wider Benefits of International Higher Education in the UK 
Case study: I4 
believe it beneath his class. 
Now back in India, he reflects that the year away gave him time to think about all of the 
other things he could do in the media, and the ability to think laterally and scale up 
projects internationally. His new research skills were also really useful, somewhat to his 
surprise. Now an entrepreneur, he has been involved in a wide range of media-based 
activities. He believes the single year in the UK widened his outlook far more than five 
years in his own country would have, and considers it “
One of the best investments of 
my life
.” I4 would strongly recommend UK HE to others as it gives a headstart and 
encourages some enterprising risk-taking.
He now has international personal and professional networks in which working 
relationships are easier, reporting that if he wanted to shoot a film in the UK, he has 
classmates who have their own companies who are just a phone call away, which is a 
much more reliable supply chain than one researched on the internet. 
In wider terms, his perceptions of the UK have changed, being “
just people like any 
other – not everybody is a character from a military textbook…not everybody is a 
Mountbatten
.” He also now feels more connected globally, rather than somebody from 
Bombay, and when he sees news about the UK feels personally affected. He remains in 
touch with his lecturers, has revisited the UK and two more students have gone to 
Bournemouth on his recommendation. 
I4 also thinks that India benefits from his study abroad – the media industry obtains 
people who are trained in cutting-edge techniques and future ideas, way ahead of what 
is taught locally, so this impacts strongly on an industry struggling for people with 
sufficient skills.