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

4.3.2 Benefit group C2: English language proficiency 
One of the of the main ‘pull’ factors for international students who choose to study in the 
UK is reported to be the opportunity to study in English, and to improve their English 
language skills, whilst based in an English-speaking country. Irrespective of the course of 
study, many alumni whose first language was not English reported that their greater 
command of the English language was an asset that was valued on return to their country 
of origin. 
4.3.2.1 Research 
evidence 
The level of spoken English in the interviews with alumni varied somewhat but was, in 
most cases, higher than had been anticipated and was very rarely problematic. This could 
of course partly be a result of some bias in the emergence of volunteers, as those who 
were less confident in communicating in English might have been less willing to volunteer. 
In some cases, alumni’s command of the language was somewhat humbling to the 
interviewer; many apologised for perceived inadequacies in their grasp of English and yet 
succeeded in answering most of our questions with fluency and intricacy. This was in spite 
of the fact that some of them had returned to communities and employment where only a 
minority would have proficiency in English. 
The majority of the alumni interviewed who were not native English speakers commented 
that their greater proficiency in English was appreciated by their employer in their country 
of origin. Some were clear that this directly assisted in securing their job, while for others it 
led to them being deployed into a role in which they would use their greater proficiency to 
the benefit of the company:
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The Wider Benefits of International Higher Education in the UK 
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Interviewee I19 believed she has added competitive advantage to her family’s aviation 
supply business in Hong Kong through her fluent English, having been educated in the 
UK at both school and HE level. 
 
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Both I23 and I24 undertook Masters courses in England which gave them fluency in 
English which is highly valued in their native Chile, in order to trade with North America 
and elsewhere. I23 regularly assisted senior staff in his company in presentations for 
potential work in the US: 
“Well, here in Chile, the English is so appreciated, you know.
We have different companies, for instance the company where I am working now, they 
are usually trying to trade with the US or with the UK or with Europe in general, and 
with Asian markets, and also they are trying to raise capital in other markets. So, 
English is always a very, very important topic when you are trying to get a good job in 
Chile.” 
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While at Kingston for a business degree I 26 deliberately socialised mainly with British 
students, so that when she returned to Indonesia her English was very strong. She 
believed this assisted in getting a job with a multinational banking organisation when it 
set up a new office in Jakarta, as its operating language worldwide was English.