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

6.2.1 Sustaining positivity 
Some of the alumni interviewed now reflected more positively about their overall UK HE 
experience than was apparent the case when they had been surveyed two or so years 
previously, and/or than immediately after graduation. For some this seemed to be 
progressive growth in perception of the value of certain aspects of their experience over 
time, as their careers and lives developed and they encountered situations where they 
could put their learning to use. This ‘increase’ in positivity over time is slightly counter-
intuitive as it might be expected that highly positive immediate perceptions might diminish 
with time, as longer-term memories become less significant amidst alumni’s evolving lives. 
Such a hypothetical decrease might also be affected by a fall in the extent of contact with 
fellow alumni once they have left HE, which might also be anticipated. However, evidence 
from the interviews suggests that positivity may increase in some respects for many.
If most alumni do remain positive or even grow more positive with time, they should 
continue to be receptive to HE institutions’ efforts in alumni relations and network support, 
although there is evidence to suggest that the most pervasive inter-alumni contacts are 
informal rather than through HEI-supported channels. Most welcomed the idea of keeping 
in touch with each other and to some extent with their HE institution. 
This raises interesting questions about what more might be done to build on the positive 
individual experiences and warmth of feeling for the UK that international alumni exhibit, 
given nearly half a million international students in UK HE annually of whom the large 
majority return home or move elsewhere. Many UK universities have alumni associations 
operating internationally and, where sufficient numbers exist, specific country branches. 
There are also various associations and networks of British scholarship scheme alumni 
and ‘British scholar’ or alumni groups
in a few countries. Some of these have been 
initiated or supported by the British Council. However, there has never been any targeted 
research to assess how these ad hoc activities might more effectively be enhanced to 
increase benefit to the UK, although there is currently some discussion about a potential 
national ‘UK HE alumni’ network.
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For example, see 
http://www.abschennai.org/
 and 
https://twitter.com/AlumniUK
 
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The Wider Benefits of International Higher Education in the UK 
Support for alumni of the main UK scholarship schemes is more substantial and, from our 
evidence, apparently more effective than for other alumni. However, it would be worthwhile 
to consider, for a relatively modest investment, what targeted interventions could be 
implemented to engage with alumni more widely to sustain and optimise long-term UK 
benefits – and to enhance the benefits perceived by those who have themselves invested 
in their education in the UK. Further consideration would be necessary to understand what 
such a national scheme might offer, beyond that available through individual HE institution 
alumni networks and informal channels.
However, a ‘national’ approach has been adopted by some countries, notably Japan and 
China. For example the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) employs some 
of its funds to keep in touch with foreign alumni of Japanese institutions, even inviting them 
back to Japan for short training and other programmes; it also supports follow-up offices in 
a number of countries including Nigeria, Jamaica and Bangladesh
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