ABSTRACT

Educationists feel comfortable discussing ultimates, for who can deny that Mark Twain had it right when he stated: "Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run." Threatening appraisals of policy and performance over short time-spans can be deflected by reference to the ultimate benefits, but the ultimate never comes. Many students from overseas come outside of any exchange scheme, reciprocal or otherwise. Indeed, the majority of foreign students come on an ad hoc basis, usually attracted by what they have been advised is a course which matches their needs. In the UK, the British Council administers an Academic Trust Grant Scheme which provides the finances to promote direct contact between departments and institutions with medical, scientific, or academic interests and to encourage the development of longer term collaboration and research.