Research and analysis on the benefits of international ...

Research and analysis on the benefits of international opportunities

CFE Research & LSE Enterprise report for the British Council

For more information about this report please contact

CFE Research, Phoenix Yard, Upper Brown Street, Leicester, LE1 5TE

T: 0116 229 3300 E : info@.uk .uk

? British Council 2014

The members of the research team that contributed to this report are:

Tristram Hughes, CFE Tej Nathwani, CFE Jonathan Sheen, CFE John Brennan, LSE Enterprise Niccolo Durazzi, LSE Enterprise

CONTENTS

Executive summary

4

01. Introduction and method

11

02. Survey findings

14

03. Qualitative interview findings

30

04. Overview of case studies

43

Case study 1: Raleigh International

46

Case study 2: Connecting Classrooms

54

Case study 3: Global Vision International, internships programme

61

Case study 4: United World Colleges

66

Case study 5: Erasmus+: Erasmus

71

Case study 6: Language Assistants

79

05. Conclusions and next steps

85

Appendix 1: Additional note on methods

91

Appendix 2: Additional survey tables

94

Appendix 3: Comparisons between those with and without international

experiences

101

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The British Council commissioned CFE Research and LSE Enterprise in May 2014 to conduct research to examine the impact of international experiences on individuals, employers, the economy and society. The research findings presented in this document draw on a survey of and depth interviews with individuals with and without international experiences as well as case studies of six programmes. The primary research was informed by two literature reviews which are reported separately: one exploring UK competitiveness and skills needs, and a second investigating the evidence on the provision, scale and benefits of different types of international experiences.

The purpose of the research is to provide evidence to inform a report that will be produced by the British Council setting out the benefits of international experiences to a UK audience of senior policymakers, business leaders/employers, education and culture sector stakeholders, think tanks and the media. It is hoped this will stimulate interest from these groups and increase the level of support for international opportunities for young people. The research will also inform future British Council strategy in this area and future campaigns to encourage the take up of international education programmes. This purpose is set within the larger context of the British Council's work, a major strand of which lies in internationalising education, sharing the UK's expertise and in providing opportunities for global collaboration.

Summary of the methodological approach

A total of 1,148 UK residents between the ages of 25 and 65 completed a telephone or online survey, of whom, 712 had international experiences and 436 had no international experience (the comparator group). Individuals with international experience were categorised based on the duration of their international experiences, with those under one month defined as light, those between one to three months defined as medium and those over three months defined as deep.

New qualitative evidence on the impact of participation in international education opportunities was collected through follow-up interviews with nine individuals who had responded to the survey. A further six interviews were conducted with those who had become successful in their careers to explore their reflections and insights on the value of their international experiences.

Six case studies were produced to explore different types of international experiences and how these generate both short and long-term benefits and impacts. Four case studies Erasmus, Language Assistants, GVI internships and Raleigh International involve international travel and provide exposure to another country accompanied by a structured network of support. The other two case studies, Connecting Classrooms and United World Colleges, are school based programmes that focus on the development of a global mindset and ethos through curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Two literature and evidence reviews were undertaken to support and inform the primary fieldwork. The first examined the skills that the UK needs to remain internationally competitive. This was

4 Executive summary | Research and analysis on the benefits of international opportunities

primarily focused on `macro-level' analysis, linking economic competitiveness with skills formation and education at a national level. It also involved reviewing `micro-level' evidence on the skills that graduates need in the labour market (most notably, `employability skills') to help them progress in their careers, and increase employer competitiveness in the national and international economy. Where existing evidence made it possible to consider the role of international experience in supporting the identified skills priorities for the UK, this was explored. The second review focused on the provision of international opportunities, international statistics and evidence on the take-up of such provision and the scale of the resulting benefits. It considered the outward mobility of UKdomiciled individuals and the benefits offered by international education experiences through a comparison of the UK with key comparator countries such as the United States and Germany.

Summary of key findings

Expanding what we know about those participating in international opportunities The comprehensive review of existing evidence and literature with regard to the uptake of international experiences demonstrates there remains a lack of extensive data collection and research into the scale and impact of international experiences. This reflects the findings from a number of previous reports and the views of organisations including: the House of Lords European Union Committee; the National Union of Students; the British Council; the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Higher Education Academy.

The review of existing literature very clearly identified a pressing need for new evidence with regard to participation in international education and international opportunities. Findings from the survey in this study show that amongst UK respondents the three most common types of international experience were work experience abroad, international travel and school exchange programmes. Quite a low proportion had taken part in university study abroad. Of the 62% who had international experience, 58% were classified as having had deep experience, whilst 42% had light or medium experiences.

The UK survey respondents who had not participated in international opportunities were generally aware that they exist. Of those without international experience a significantly greater proportion of individuals with a degree (83%) were aware of potential opportunities, when compared to those respondents without (72%). Furthermore, those in higher social grades were more aware (85%) that such opportunities exist, than those in lower social grades (71%). More action is arguably needed to increase awareness of international opportunities amongst women, those without university education and amongst people in lower skilled occupations. During our survey fieldwork it was challenging to identify sufficient individuals with international experience, suggesting that these people may constitute a minority of the general population.

Three factors have a significant and positive impact on the probability of an individual taking part in international experiences:

Research and analysis on the benefits of international opportunities | Executive summary 5

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