The main factors which can have an impact on the education market are the value of international education, GDP growth rate, demographics, where the market is concentrated and government priorities.
Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world, and with an area of over one million square miles is almost the size of the European Union. Its population is 40 million, of which 12 million live in Greater Buenos Aires. Demographic growth, at around 1.1 per cent, is one of the lowest in Latin America. The literacy rate is high at 97,2 per cent. Argentina has the highest Human Development Index level and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in purchasing power parity in Latin America. The country is currently classified as an Upper-Middle Income Country by the World Bank, or as a secondary emerging market. Argentina's nominal GDP makes it the 31st largest economy in the world. By regional standards, Argentina has a sizable middle class and the more affluent Argentines, particularly in the urban areas, represent an important market for a wide range of consumer goods.
In 2003, the Argentine economy began to recover from the financial crisis of the previous year. The economy grew 8,8per cent in 2003, 9per cent in 2004, 9,2per cent in 2005, 8,5per cent in 2006, and 8,5per cent in 2007 – the highest economic growth rate per year of Latin America for the 2003 to 2007 period. Prospects for 2008 continue to be good, with the Ministry of Economy forecasting a 4 per cent growth for the current year (although all experts predict that the numbers will be around 6 to 8 per cent). In 2007 poverty fell to 24,4 per cent, unemployment fell to 7,3 per cent, and the annual inflation rate reached around 16 to 20per cent (official numbers are 8,5per cent).
The main market features are the local education system, medium of instruction, the role and level of English, the factors that drive demand, agent infrastructure, competitors, and barriers to market entry or development.
There are 84 universities and 19 university institutes (institutos universitarios) in Argentina. There are 38 national state universities and 43 private universities. Approximately 1.600.000 students are undertaking undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Argentina, from which 80 per cent study in national universities. While there have been serious issues relating to under funding and inefficiency in the state sector in recent years, as well as certain questions asked about the quality of private provision, the Argentine university system is currently active and competitive. To illustrate this, there has been an explosion of new postgraduate courses being offered in recent years, by both private and state universities. Another example of this is the high number of international students – especially from other Latin America countries – studying in Argentina, taking advantage of the good quality of courses and the low tuition fees and living expenses – due to the devaluation of the Peso currency in 2002. Argentina’s rate of international students is above Spain and the second in Latin America.
Strengths: The main strengths for UK education and training suppliers are:
- a positive perception of the UK as a provider of education
- the quality and breadth of provision of UK education
- one year Masters Courses are shorter and hence cheaper than many US alternatives
- British English and ELT methodological approach as the preferred model for TEFL in both state and private sectors
- a unique and long-standing network of British-type schools and English institutes (Culturas)
- British Council presence with a dedicated education officer and programme arranging service for those UK organisations looking to develop local contacts, a British Embassy Commercial Section and a large Argentine-British Chamber of Commerce
- positive image of the UK and long established influential relationship
- Chevening alumni in influential positions – current National Ministry of Economy is a Chevening alumni
- Argentina, and especially Buenos Aires, has a western European feel to it, the culture is much closer to home than many foreign countries outside western Europe
- there are approximately 4,853,000 students of English as a foreign language. This includes 4,100,000 at schools and another 753,000 who study English at other institutions. English is widely spoken by university students.
Weaknesses: the main weaknesses for UK education and training suppliers are:
- devaluation of the Peso in January 2002
- lack of investment of British universities in raising their profile in Argentina
- lack of awareness in Argentina of the flexibility and variety of the UK HE and FE sectors and only a limited knowledge of institutions outside Oxbridge and London
- there are currently few institutional links between Argentina and the UK compared to UK’s competitors
- high cost of imported against the cost of locally published educational materials
There are opportunities in different sectors and these opportunities have certain implications, for example; product development, gaps in the market, niches and new opportunities
There are a number of opportunities, particularly at postgraduate level, such as recruitment for top quality MBAs, other niche postgraduate areas and short postgraduate professional courses. However there are also opportunities for those institutions interested in developing joint ventures with local institutions. Technology transfer is the means by which the Argentine economy grew so quickly in the 1990s, and technology transfer through joint ventures with foreign institutions is also seen as a short cut for local education institutions to meet the rising local demand for quality and diversity of courses.
The US is the market leader in student recruitment in the MBA and Business related fields; US, French and Spanish institutions all have more links than their British counterparts. Other competitors include Canada and Australia, particularly for ELT. UK institutions should be helped by Argentina’s pro-European orientation and the strong historical, cultural and linguistic ties it has had with the UK. Despite differences at a diplomatic level, Argentines tend to be anglophile. In the face of this competition, those UK institutions which will succeed in Argentina are those which are persistent and show their commitment to potential local partners by repeated visits to the market and use of new technologies. This is demonstrated in the strategies employed by successful UK institutions.
The British Council was established in Argentina 1942 (with a closure between 1982 and 1991 due to the Falklands war). There is one centre in Buenos Aires. Through a range of collaborative projects in education and English language teaching, including the DfES Teacher’s International Professional Development scheme (TIPD), SLANT and Inglés Ingles English, we have created and maintained contacts between ministry officials and schools in the UK and Argentina.
We work on standards and school leadership with the national, provincial and City of Buenos Aires education authorities. SLANT is a response from the British Council to the concern expressed by Latin American governments about the need to strength leadership in educational and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). Through SLANT educational experts from Argentina, LAC and the UK work together creating links that may impact in the quality of education in these countries.
The Inglés Ingles English regional project aims at improving the quality of English language teaching in Latin America through the offer of professional development opportunities and expansion of professional networks for English teachers. This includes training primary school English language teachers in the province of Tucumán and the Hornby regional schools held in Argentina in 2008/ 09.
We also target English language teachers and learners nationally through a variety of collaborative activities to improve skills and learning opportunities. UK ELT specialists have received our support to participate in conferences in Argentina and to work with higher education institutions and teacher associations. We provide classroom materials, many of which are developed through our literature and science programmes.
The British Council also manages the British Chevening Scholarship Scheme and the Language Assistant programme. Every year, the British Chevening Scholarship Scheme sends top young professionals to study full time MAs in British universities. Under the Language Assistant programme ten young graduates from each country provide language support in schools in Argentina and the UK. By connecting the Ministry of Education with appropriate British expertise, we assist in media projects for schools and the development of a national education TV channel.
In education promotion, we visit schools and universities and participate in the main education fairs. In partnership with EU partners – DAAD, the Spanish Embassy, CampusFrance and the European Mission in Argentina – we organise the most prestigious European education exhibition in the country – EuroPosgrados – which every year gathers an audience of 8,000.
Finally, we manage exams for British universities, providing invigilators, venue, and receiving and sending the materials through courier.
Contacts in Argentina
- Education: Ernesto Cussianovich – Operations Manager Education & Society
- ELT: Mary Godward – Operations Manager Arts & English
- Chevening Scholarships: Ignacio Aguiló – Projects Officer
- Language Assistants: Virginia Vázquez Vaccaro – Projects Officer
- Exams: Celeste Liviero – Projects Officer
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