A Festschrift conference for Professor Sir Colin Campbell on 'The Internationalisation of Higher Education' held at The University of Nottingham

The impact of rapid globalisation and growth of powerful emerging economies is altering trends and demand in international education and universities today cooperate but also compete on a global scale. This conference was held in recognition of The Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, Professor Sir Colin Campbell, and his contribution to the internationalisation of higher education. It attracted delegates from across UK higher education, business and government and from academic institutions overseas. Listen to Dr Bahram Bekhradnia, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute warn that the sector may have become over-dependent on the income provided by overseas students, currently running at eight per cent of total income. "We need long-term vision, both by governments and by universities," he said. Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator and Associate Editor of the Financial Times, agreed that the UK higher education system is "chronically under-financed" for the role it is now undertaking. Lord Digby Jones, Trade Minister, argued that universities would be the difference between success and failure in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century. He said: "If we as a country are going to survive, if we as democracies are going to win, universities are not just a key part of it, they are essential for our survival."