Bangladesh is a development enabler
In line with HESA statistics, Bangladesh has develop into one of many quickest rising supply markets for the UK increased training sector, rising by 91% between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 tutorial years, with 12,700 college students enrolled in British universities.
Regardless of this development there are nonetheless many misconceptions concerning the nation with establishments underinvesting in a market with such potential.
Legacy considerations about visa refusals have saved many establishments away and an absence of basis pathways has severely inhibited undergraduate numbers.
For these establishments who’ve been proactive within the nation nevertheless, it has performed an necessary function in diversifying scholar populations on campus and has paid long-term dividends.
Final 12 months, Bangladesh ranked because the sixth largest scholar recruitment marketplace for the UK.
Samual Jackson-Royle, director of worldwide operations and admissions at Bangor College speaks to The PIE, saying “Bangladesh has a younger inhabitants and a rising center class, making it a market of potential development for all establishments”.
“The important thing for [Bangor University] and an space of funding has been working to know the place we as an establishment can meet the wants of those college students by particular extra abilities or {qualifications} alongside the diploma or by assist find employment alternatives post-graduation.”
On the world stage, the nation can be a key differential for UK training because it doesn’t function within the prime 10 supply markets for both the US, Canada or Australia.
The latter has seen rising success from different South Asian nations similar to Nepal and Pakistan who’ve develop into key development enablers for the reason that pandemic, and might be aiming to focus on related success from Bangladesh.
Because the eighth most populated nation on the earth with an estimated 170 million folks, the north-eastern area is taken into account an rising powerhouse in South Asia and the potential is evident.
The buoyant garment manufacturing trade has pushed regular development within the economic system and middle-class revenue, with some shocking traits that make it stand out.
A decrease inhabitants development fee than each India and Pakistan, means its per capita revenue is definitely rising quicker than each bigger nations.
A brand new bilateral settlement that got here into drive in July 2023 with neighbouring India, will enable direct cross-border buying and selling in rupees. An initiative that might ease strain on overseas foreign money reserves and stabilise fluctuating trade charges that hamper scholar mobility.
Regulated monetary flows between Bangladesh and India may encourage elevated assist from college recruitment operations already based mostly in India.
Bangladesh additionally has a robust cultural agenda to assist the training of ladies in society, having held a feminine prime minister in workplace since 2009.
The nation additionally has the next than common propensity for digital transactions in comparison with the South Asian common.
Zahirul Islam, the Bangladeshi co-founder of AHZ Associates, an expert company which supplies scholar counselling companies internationally for these thinking about finding out within the UK, explains the rising monetary energy of the nation and its constructive affect on scholar mobility.
“In recent times, the Bangladesh economic system has grown by 6.4%, which is increased than India. With this development [we are seeing] a brand new group of candidates and oldsters coming ahead to put money into their youngsters’s future,” Islam explains.
“A variety of this danger is outdated and misunderstood”
“In Bangladesh lies a key and infrequently untapped recruitment marketplace for UK establishments. Because the economic system grows, folks develop and we’re proud to see continued energy on the world stage.”
Bangladesh’s colonial previous and membership of The Commonwealth means there’s an inextricable historic hyperlink to Britain that explains the upper demand for UK training particularly.
The College of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s largest public analysis college was purportedly modelled on the College of Oxford, and the northern metropolis of Sylhet is also known as a ‘second London’, as a result of 1000’s of households from the area that selected emigrate to Britain throughout the Fifties.
Very similar to New South Wales’s hyperlink to Nepal, the diaspora assist of Bangladeshi communities dwelling in Britain is a central issue to the profitable recruitment of scholars to the nation.
In 2022 scholar visa approval charges for Bangladeshi college students making use of to the UK have been 98%, equal to India and better than each Pakistan (95%) and Nigeria (95%), a statistic that can shock many.
Islam explains nevertheless, that there stays warning amongst college admissions groups as they scrutinise Bangladeshi college students as real candidates. “The UK has an extended historical past with Bangladesh and but just a few universities perceive and see its actual potential,” he notes.
“Universities are sometimes involved concerning the concept of danger in Bangladesh however we [AHZ Associates] have been working there for greater than a decade and imagine that numerous this danger is outdated and misunderstood.
“Bangladeshi college students see the UK as a part of their historical past and welcome the chance to check there. These are real, gifted college students that we’re proud to assist.”
