New Europe? New World?

During my most recent trip in to Budapest recently, I had a short stop over in London. Met good old friends who are Londoners.. They were asking me, how is the situation in South East Asia, and whether there is any positive development. Well, so unfortunate for my friends in England, they are jobless, and looking at todays news, does not sound promising either, it seems like everywhere in the world. It reminds me, what happen to all the hype of Greater Europe, the European Union, can't is sustain the global crisis. Well, it seems there is just no such immunity, I went through the painful period in 97, when the 'Tiger Economies - Malaysia, Indonesia, HK & South Korea included' were losing its grip, thank God, the situation improved, and hopefully, people learnt, I mean here in South East Asia, after all, as the saying goes 'History repeats Itself', so, it is prudent to be careful.

Now, how does that affect students, I am curious to know the current policy of education budget, knowing for a fact what happened in 97, only for those pursuing 'critical subject' will be given priority i.e. scholarship & study loans. Logically, then, shouldn't these students then, be sent where the quality persist at a fraction of the fee as compared to 'premium' countries. We are talking about comparative advantage here, a very basic economic principle. But, again, aren't we, the modern consumer are obsessed with BRANDING?, perhaps, there is a need to have our principle on Branding re - analysed without FEAR or FAVOUR