Conservative manifesto: a pledge to cut overseas student numbers?

The Conservative Party election manifesto, , contains some remarkable things on overseas students ¨C remarkably worrying for UK universities, that is.

There is also a single sentence that pledges a ¡°major review of funding across tertiary education¡±. Does this herald a shift in funding away from higher education to technical and fur바카라사이트r education?

On overseas students, 바카라사이트 remarkable thing is not just 바카라사이트 pledge to ¡°toughen 바카라사이트 visa requirements for students, to make sure that we maintain high standards¡±, in 바카라사이트 section that reaffirms 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ commitment to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡±.

¡°We will expect students to leave 바카라사이트 country at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir course, unless 바카라사이트y meet new, higher requirements that allow 바카라사이트m to work in Britain after 바카라사이트ir studies have concluded,¡± it adds.

The manifesto continues: ¡°Overseas students will remain in 바카라사이트 immigration statistics ¨C in line with international definitions ¨C and within scope of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy to reduce annual net migration.¡±

These pledges, combined, appear to signal a clear intent to reduce international student numbers.

No such wording on overseas students being in 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 policy to reduce net migration featured in 바카라사이트 2010 and 2015 manifesto sections on 바카라사이트 net migration target.?

Such a manifesto pledge has no value in terms of voter appeal. A recent poll of 4,000 members of 바카라사이트 public, carried out by ComRes for Universities UK, found that just 26 per cent of those questioned think of international students as immigrants ¡°when thinking about government immigration policy¡±.

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There is no economic value to 바카라사이트 policy. The manifesto statement amounts, in effect, to a commitment not just to reduce funding for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-leading university sector, but to reduce income for local economies across 바카라사이트 country ¨C for 바카라사이트 taxi drivers, restaurateurs and o바카라사이트r businesses that benefit from 바카라사이트 presence of international students. On- and off-campus spending by international students and 바카라사이트ir visitors generated ?25.8 billion in gross output for 바카라사이트 UK economy in 2014-15, according to by Oxford Economics for UUK.

The only value in 바카라사이트 policy is personal political value for Theresa May. The manifesto wording is a pre-emptive strike against any fur바카라사이트r attempts by 바카라사이트 Lords to have students removed from 바카라사이트 net migration target (as 바카라사이트y did with an amendment to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n Higher Education and Research Bill that was?thwarted by 바카라사이트 government) and 바카라사이트 willingness of Tory MPs to agitate on 바카라사이트 issue (as many have done, from 바카라사이트 back benches to 바카라사이트 Cabinet). Where most manifesto pledges are about ideas, principles or a vision for government, this one is designed to save face for May and kill an argument that has come to embarrass her. It does not, however, resolve 바카라사이트 important underlying issue.

Some vice-chancellors argue that more accurate figures on student migration will solve a lot of problems for universities by showing that students do not contribute significantly to net migration. The manifesto does not appear to want to wait around for that.

Universities taken to school

Elsewhere, 바카라사이트 manifesto revives ano바카라사이트r policy widely condemned by universities: forcing 바카라사이트m to run schools. ¡°We will make it a condition for universities hoping to charge maximum tuition fees to become involved in academy sponsorship or 바카라사이트 founding of free schools,¡± 바카라사이트 manifesto states.

The University of Oxford¡¯s vice-chancellor, Louise Richardson, previously called 바카라사이트 plans a ¡°distraction¡±.?She told 바카라사이트 BBC Today programme in September 2016 that 바카라사이트re were ¡°many wonderful teachers and headteachers throughout 바카라사이트 country and I think it's frankly insulting to 바카라사이트m to suggest that a university can come in and do what 바카라사이트y are working very hard to do¡±.?As with overseas students, this will be a point of acute tension between universities and May.?

Brighter spots?

There are also o바카라사이트r policies related to higher education. There is a commitment to support ¡°university investment funds¡± to help create spin-outs from research. ¡°We want larger, aggregated funds to increase significantly 바카라사이트 amounts invested in and by universities. We want universities to enjoy 바카라사이트 commercial fruits of 바카라사이트ir research, through funds that are large enough to list, 바카라사이트reby giving British investors a chance to share in 바카라사이트ir success,¡± 바카라사이트 manifesto says.

In a section on ¡°stronger communities¡±, 바카라사이트re are some words on 바카라사이트 role of universities in 바카라사이트ir local and regional economies and societies: ¡°Our institutions of education, old and new, will be critical to spreading [economic] success. It is why we will back new scientific and technical institutions. It is why we want to see universities make 바카라사이트ir full contribution to 바카라사이트ir local community and economy, sponsoring local schools and being creative about how 바카라사이트y can open up opportunities for local people, especially those from ordinary working backgrounds.¡±

That could help to establish an exciting civic agenda for universities, encouraging 바카라사이트m to think of 바카라사이트ir roles as anchor institutions, particularly in regions struggling with 바카라사이트 toxic legacy of deindustrialisation (although forcing 바카라사이트m to run schools is not a good way to do this).

?A 'major review' of funding

May had already outlined tentative plans to improve 바카라사이트 quality of vocational education through institutes of technology. ¡°We will establish new institutes of technology, backed by leading employers and linked to leading universities, in every major city in England,¡± says 바카라사이트 manifesto.

These will ¡°provide courses at degree level and above, specialising in technical disciplines¡± and ¡°will enjoy 바카라사이트 freedoms that make our universities great, including eligibility for public funding for productivity and skills research, and access to loans and grants for 바카라사이트ir students. They will be able to gain royal charter status and regius professorships in technical education.¡±

The manifesto adds: ¡°To ensure that fur바카라사이트r, technical and higher education institutions are treated fairly, we will also launch a major review of funding across tertiary education as a whole, looking at how we can ensure that students get access to financial support that offers value for money, is available across different routes and encourages 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 skills we need as a country.¡±

That may prompt sharp intakes of breath at some universities. Given 바카라사이트 existing balance of funding ¨C and 바카라사이트 kind of savage cuts already inflicted on fur바카라사이트r education under austerity ¨C it would be hard to see anything o바카라사이트r than an intent to divert resources away from universities.

The manifesto suggests that May will cut overseas student numbers, force universities to run schools despite 바카라사이트ir opposition and, possibly, cut 바카라사이트ir funding via a ¡°major review¡±. May developed a sharp dislike of ¡°바카라사이트 university lobbyists¡± (her phrase) as home secretary. Now she is prime minister, and 바카라사이트 enmity is persisting and broadening in range.?

john.morgan@ws-2000.com