Just read an interesting story on the BBC regarding the milking of cows - Cash Cows.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8584819.stm

So my question is, why have they bothered mentioning this now? Surely everyone has known for the last 10-15 years that international $tudent$ are just brought in for the extra cash. Another animal bolting and a door shutting spring to mind here.

I wonder how long it will take for the reputation of British universities to be undermined? The whole situation is almost reminiscent of the financial market, companies trading falsely upon undeserved reputations.

A friend of mine recently got a job as "international recruitment officer", the university spends a fortune flying him round the world to attract these students. I know that the professors from my undergrad uni regularly go on visits to do the same. As you say, why are the BBC reporting this as news?