The BBC reports on a ‘brain gain’ of academics to UK universities, mainly in the sciences.
Many are attracted by research opportunities (well, it ain’t going to be the salaries…). One Canadian recruit was also drawn by not having to fight her way through the tenure-track system. (Last month, Cliopatriots mused on its benefits… but you have to get in first.)
But there are also some stark and depressing statistics. “Between 1989 and 2002, government spending per student fell 37% in real terms as the number of students increased by 94%, according to Universities UK, an association of university heads.” “While the United States spent 2.7% of its gross national product on higher education in 2000, Britain spent 1%.”