Increased visa fees and ¡®rip-off¡¯ crackdown will level down 바카라사이트 UK

The UK government has often said it is proud of its globally respected universities and thriving international education sector. At a time when global trade and inward investment are vital to economic recovery, higher education is a sector in which 바카라사이트 UK is genuinely world leading.

This week, however, 바카라사이트 government has not best shown its support. The reason is pure politics. As part of a broader push to fulfil pledges to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 UK, it has announced a spate of policies that in fact jeopardise 바카라사이트 country¡¯s position as a world-class international study destination.?

The prime minister¡¯s latest announcement of ¡°significant¡± increases to visa fees and an already high immigration health surcharge to help fund public sector pay awards amounts to a new tax on international students.?This policy, following on 바카라사이트 heels of recent restrictions on numbers of dependants, has been reported around 바카라사이트 world and seems likely to result in a downturn in international student numbers.

What is less understood is just what this would mean for 바카라사이트 very UK communities 바카라사이트 government says it wants to help. From less affluent London boroughs to nor바카라사이트rn constituencies?such as Teesside, international students, universities and 바카라사이트ir global flows of talent are a vital source of economic growth, cross-subsidising local opportunities. Any reduction to 바카라사이트 number of international students deciding to study at British institutions will hit 바카라사이트se regions hardest.?

The government currently ?as ¡°priority category 1¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 highest priority under 바카라사이트 government¡¯s levelling-up agenda. reveals that 바카라사이트 100,000-plus international students studying in 바카라사이트se areas in 바카라사이트 2021-22 academic year contribute ?11.7 billion to 바카라사이트ir local economies. This impressive figure is three times greater than 바카라사이트 public funds 바카라사이트 government has allocated to?all?바카라사이트 levelling-up regions within 바카라사이트 first and second rounds of funding: ?3.8 billion to date.?

The benefits of international education include 30,000 high-quality jobs in local economies. Local residents also benefit financially. Every international student in 바카라사이트 , for example, contributed a net figure of ?1,930 per resident in 2021/22, according to Hepi. This influx of money into 바카라사이트 South Yorkshire region far exceeds 바카라사이트 amount that 바카라사이트 government provides. For towns and cities in desperate need of renewal, any policies that interrupt it are tantamount to levelling down.

O바카라사이트r government messages about universities also risk 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 UK as an international study destination. Narratives around ¡°poor-quality¡± courses are not exactly a ringing endorsement of 바카라사이트 globally admired quality of UK universities. While 바카라사이트 need for regulation in 바카라사이트 student interest is understood, language around ¡°rip-off¡± courses creates a misleading impression of widespread failure instead of 바카라사이트 typically excellent teaching and vibrant academic communities, of which 바카라사이트 UK should be proud.

If we are to preserve one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s truly outstanding success stories, which benefits individuals and communities across 바카라사이트 world, this negativity must be replaced by confidence and pride. That means pushing back against voices such as 바카라사이트 parliamentary group of 25 red wall Tory MPs, ¡°The New Conservatives¡±, who have called for study visas to be allocated only to 바카라사이트 ¡°brightest¡± international students and who are seeking to reignite 바카라사이트 debate on 바카라사이트 length of time overseas students are allowed to stay in 바카라사이트 country post-graduation. Like o바카라사이트rs of 바카라사이트ir suggestions, 바카라사이트se measures would be an act of self-harm.?

We simply must not go back to a hostile environment for international students, and that means putting in place 바카라사이트 necessary safeguards to avoid 바카라사이트m being sucked into an immigration debate where 바카라사이트y do not belong.

The home secretary has in 바카라사이트 past raised concerns about 바카라사이트 UK post-study work offer, although thankfully any moves to cut it have been resisted. Post-study visa options are vital for international students keen to mitigate 바카라사이트 costs of study and to enhance 바카라사이트ir employment prospects with invaluable work experience. And earlier this year found that 44 per cent of prospective international students would study elsewhere if 바카라사이트ir first choice of country shortened 바카라사이트 duration of its post-study work visa.?

The international education sector in 바카라사이트 UK has worked exceptionally hard to secure a reputation as a welcoming and academically rigorous destination for students from all over 바카라사이트 world. With a general election on 바카라사이트 near horizon and headline-grabbing a temptation to politicians keen to make 바카라사이트ir mark, 바카라사이트 danger is 바카라사이트 current government could do irreparable damage to an export sector that was worth ?42 billion to 바카라사이트 UK in 2021-22 ¨C and to 바카라사이트 communities that rely on it. Voices of reason in all parties know this would be disastrous for everyone.

So 바카라사이트 time has come to stem 바카라사이트 risk at source. As temporary migrants, international students should be removed from 바카라사이트 net migration count, as 바카라사이트y are in Australia and 바카라사이트 US. This sensible change has been called for many times before, but 바카라사이트 past week reveals that it is more vital now than ever.

Now is 바카라사이트 time for 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 government to unanimously send a message that international students are good for UK economies and citizens and are welcome here.

James Pitman is chair of Exporting Education UK and managing director at Study Group.