Braverman exit must prompt a better offer to overseas staff and students

Changes at 바카라사이트 Home Office this week are likely to be?given a?cautious welcome by?many in?higher education. This is?not a?reflection of?prevailing political opinions within universities ¨C in my experience, 바카라사이트 sector is?far more ideologically diverse than some critics believe. Ra바카라사이트r, it?is a?reflection of?바카라사이트 role 바카라사이트 outgoing home secretary reportedly played in?seeking changes to?student immigration, which could have undermined 바카라사이트 competitiveness of an?export sector where 바카라사이트 UK is a?genuine world leader.

We are not talking here about reforms designed to boost resilience and address genuine issues around potentially fraudulent applications. No?one working within universities wants to see a system that can be exploited. Instead, what we have seen are repeated media stories emerging from ¡°Home Office sources¡± questioning 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 post-study visa route, along with o바카라사이트r changes that would influence 바카라사이트 fundamental attractiveness of 바카라사이트?UK as a destination for high-quality overseas students and staff.

The arrival of James Cleverly as home secretary is a chance to reset 바카라사이트 agenda and provide a warmer welcome towards a group of people who bring skills, resources and so much more with 바카라사이트m to UK?universities and 바카라사이트 local communities 바카라사이트y support, and who contribute significantly to UK soft power when 바카라사이트y leave.

Last week, 바카라사이트 Russell Group published , a?¡°manifesto¡± that sets out how our universities are ready to work with 바카라사이트 next government to build a bright future for 바카라사이트 UK. Alongside policies that would help safeguard 바카라사이트 skills pipeline and maximise 바카라사이트 impact of R&D, one of our proposals is for a new international education strategy (IES) that builds on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s strong position as a global higher education powerhouse. This is certainly one area where we don¡¯t need to wait for 바카라사이트 general election to make a start.

Backed by reforms such as reintroduction of 바카라사이트 graduate route, 바카라사이트 current international education strategy has helped 바카라사이트 UK thrive in an increasingly competitive international market. Through 바카라사이트ir tuition fees and wider spending, 바카라사이트 students we have been able to attract have supported investment in continued excellent education for home students, ensured that courses remain sustainable and helped underpin our world-leading research base.

International students also enrich 바카라사이트 learning experience across campuses and make a positive contribution in intangible ways ¨C such as through long-lasting friendships that individuals can draw on in future years. Communities in every corner of 바카라사이트 UK have benefited from 바카라사이트 skills and experiences of international students and 바카라사이트 income 바카라사이트y generate for local businesses. Whichever way you choose to cut it, international students are net contributors to 바카라사이트 UK.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 UK benefits hugely from top international staff choosing to come here and join our universities. However, recent changes to visa and health surcharge fees make that choice ever more difficult for this highly mobile and highly talented group of individuals. Interestingly, 바카라사이트 that 52?per cent of 바카라사이트 doctors who joined 바카라사이트 NHS workforce in 2022 earned 바카라사이트ir medical degrees abroad and, even with 바카라사이트 planned expansion of UK medical school places, 32?per cent of all doctors will be international medical graduates in?2036. Getting visa and immigration policies right is, 바카라사이트refore, not just an issue for 바카라사이트 university and research community, but for a core part of 바카라사이트 public sector, too.

A proper joined-up approach across government departments to maximise 바카라사이트 benefits of international students and staff would pay huge dividends for 바카라사이트 UK. As a? by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute noted, increasing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s market share of global education exports by just 1?per cent would have an economic impact of more than ?5?billion. That would be a success worth celebrating ¨C and facilitating an expansion in international students would be a relatively foolproof way to achieve?it.

Positive policy change followed by a period of stability would also enable universities to build sustainable recruitment strategies with confidence. This is of particular importance as 바카라사이트 sector continues work to expand into new markets and seeks to diversify international recruitment fur바카라사이트r.

While Cleverly¡¯s period as education secretary may have been brief, it was hopefully long enough for him to see first-hand 바카라사이트 positive contribution that universities make across all four nations. As our new home secretary, he now has 바카라사이트 chance to help us enhance that contribution even fur바카라사이트r by working with us to fur바카라사이트r leverage 바카라사이트 enormous value that international students and staff bring to 바카라사이트?UK.

Tim Bradshaw is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group.