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

Case study: I15 
developed an international network of people who want to help Kenya develop 
sustainable agriculture and ecology; his links are strong and growing stronger. He plans 
to forge relationships between an HEI in Kenya and three UK universities, and to initiate 
a student exchange scheme between these universities. He wants to develop 
sustainable policies for the Kenyan government, and believes that his education will 
make them listen. In the meantime he is also working with a UK research institution as 
well as a UK government office in Kenya, involving the UK in his developmental plans.
4.3 Benefits to international graduates 
4.3.1 Benefit type C1: Career enhancement or change 
One of the main motivations for participation in higher education, especially internationally 
and/or at taught postgraduate level, is the potential for improved employment or career 
outcomes and all the advantages of income, status and influence that may follow. This 
section considers individual career-related benefits reported by alumni, both as 
enhancements to pre-existing career trajectories and changes to career paths.
4.3.1.1 Research 
evidence 
The majority of alumni interviewed suggested that their UK HE experience and/or 
qualification had directly contributed to them securing their current job, which contributed 
to their assessment that it had been a worthwhile and positive investment. A higher 
proportion (about three quarters) suggested that the qualification had enabled them to 
progress faster in their career than those without such a qualification, while an even higher 
proportion suggested it was the skills gained from the overall experience that enabled 
faster progress. Semi-quantitative treatment of their perceptions on these issues is 
reported in chapter 5. With so many alumni citing career enhancement impact, the 
following examples are only illustrative of a range of direct career-related benefits. 
In some cases graduates returned to their former employer but secured rapid and 
significant progression within that organisation. Some but by no means of all these had 
been funded or part-funded by their employer, while some others managed to obtain 
scholarships to support their study: 

Interviewee I6 had worked in the Ministry of Justice in Ethiopia, but after a Masters in 
criminal law and justice at Birmingham, rapidly became a team leader in the Ministry. 
He subsequently became an attorney and consultant helping citizens obtain justice. 

Having originally been a reporter, after an MA in Cardiff Jamaican I51 was immediately 
promoted on return, although subsequently moved into public relations and now heads 
PR for Jamaica’s largest bank: 
“It has been an absolute passport. I left Jamaica as a 
reporter on the Sunday desk. When I got back, they made me editor for education.”
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The Wider Benefits of International Higher Education in the UK 

I68 obtained a British Council scholarship while working for a Nigerian bank, and after 
a business Masters at Birmingham returned and was quickly and repeatedly promoted 
to become Head of HR, the youngest ever holder of such a post there. 

Venezuelan I72 who completed a Masters in Manufacturing Engineering and 
Management in the UK returned home to the same company. She was given a new 
appointment and soon afterwards promoted to Head of R&D. Generally staff progress 
on the basis of time served, but within 5 years she was supervising a team of 25 staff 
and 6 interns a year. 
Others articulated the influence of their UK HE qualification and/or experiences in securing 
employment, either with their current employer or a previous employer:

I21 applied to a multinational employer in finance and thought her success due to her 
combination of experiences – a business studies BA at Manchester within which she 
had done two internships, and two years work in the UK on a post-study permit 
afterwards. This was stronger than many others in South Africa with international 
degrees. She has since leapt up the ladder in sales management roles: