ABSTRACT
In this chapter we first consider the environments within which universities undertake to provide advanced vocational courses designed for an international clientele, and within which prospective students seek to upgrade their education and competencies to meet business requirements. It is important to be aware of the pressures, financial and otherwise, which have stimulated UK universities to recruit increasingly large numbers of international students. However, unless these pressures are handled responsibly, adverse reports of inadequate student support systems may filter back from alumni to prospective applicants, diminishing a potentially lucrative source of university income. Whilst a desire for vocational advancement may motivate some individuals to undertake advanced study at university, perceiving it as raising their future employability, all applicants must still balance their academic interests against more basic motivations of increased expected rewards for doing so. In the case of individuals seeking to engage in future international careers, there is evidence to suggest that study abroad can form a useful foundation for establishing the personal qualities demanded by such a lifestyle.
