~Approximately 33k students study in the UK from the US but just under 9k students from the UK do the reverse
~72% of US students cite finances as a barrier to study abroad vs. 53% of UK students
~ The UK recently implemented a new tuition scheme that tripled the cost of university (from about 3k GBP to 9k GBP per year)
~Starting in 2014 Erasmus students will be able to study in the US on exchange. However, no one actually knows how this is going to work.
~Language study is being de-emphasized in the UK, while transferrable job skills are the focus.
~The UK has been experimenting with virtual mobility schemes as a pre-cursor to physical exchange
Around 10 am we said our goodbyes an boarded our trusty blue coach to head back into London. Well, it was Surrey actually.
The collective gasp at the beauty of Royal Holloway can't really be forgotten. We spent our first half hour taking photos when they really wanted us to enjoy the gourmet picnic on the Founders' North Quad. It was really difficult to focus on anything, given the magnificent architecture. We felt sort of out of place. Royal Holloway was established in 1886 as a university for women (and their accompanying maids). Thomas Holloway and his wife Jane were trying to emulate the Vassar model.
But after a series of helpful lectures and warm welcomes (including a reception in the portrait gallery--above) we all opened up and felt at ease. We quickly checked into our accommodation--halls gifted by Korea University-- and changed for our dinner. We only had about 10 minutes to freshen up before our taxis arrived to take us to Windsor. We had another great dinner at Sir Christopher Wren's Hotel & Spa. And yes, it really was his place. Across the river is Eton.
Two streets over was Windsor Castle. Unfortunately we didn't have the chance to meet the Queen or Baby George :-)