What is it about?
Being fluent in word and deed means success, and International Schools are selling this precious commodity to the rich of developing countries. It is not enough to just learn the language, you need an English speaking narrative, you need the phrases, the gestures, and the friends to go with it. This is what international schools now provide along with internationally recognised curricula.
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Why is it important?
As BREXIT looms, the market for English grows. For developing countries, BRIC (or the global South), getting into an English or American University is the way to succeed. As Britain faces the prospect of losing many EU students, this loss is likely to engender an increase from the rest of the world. Distinction (Bourdieu) is key here. The large amount of EU students studying in the UK is likely to subside, leaving the UK degree qualification as a rarer, and therefore more distinct and more valuable product.
Perspectives
This publication shows the flip side of BREXIT seen from the perspective of Higher Education. Yes, the UK will lose EU students. However, this is likely to increase the perceived value of the UK qualification among the rich of 'the rest of the world', especially the BRIC nations. We are likely to see more wealthy students from developing countries and much fewer working class or middle class students from Europe. Ultimately, BREXIT serves a Gucci-isation of the University sector, by increasing its distinct nature.
Dr Alexander Gardner-McTaggart
University of Manchester
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The promise of advantage: Englishness in IB international schools, Perspectives Policy and Practice in Higher Education, May 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/13603108.2018.1456491.
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