Leading UK universities, including London Schools of Economics & Political Science, Kings College London, Warwick University, Manchester University and University College London, joined the Studybritish.com HE exhibition in Baku last week.
Despite fears of reduced demand due to the local economy, global oil prices and the suspension of the Ministry of Education scholarship, interest was strong and high achieving students remain attracted to studying in the UK.
Applications from self-funded students for 2017 have started more strongly that last year, and there are hopes for a return of the state scholarship next year, focussed on PG courses in ministry identified subjects, and joint programmes held in both countries.
The exclusive Studybritish.com Alumni Reception again attracted a good number of UK university alumni, a vital source of university ‘ambassadors’ and referral enquiries for the future. University representatives were then treated to an evening of blues jazz at an exclusive restaurant, with the International Jazz Festival taking place in Baku.
The Studybritish.com HE Exhibition takes place in October and April every year, and was the first UK-focussed education event in Azerbaijan, developed with support from the FCO and UKTI. Since 2013 the British Council has offered a competing event, which helps their local sales of IELTS courses and tests, products that globally help the BC earn over £1 billion per year. In 2016 the BC were forced to issue an apology to Levant Education for unfair competitive exploitation of Levant’s cooperation with UKTI / FCO in 2011/12.
