With a new home secretary, we need a new approach to immigration, too

Somewhere near 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 new home secretary¡¯s in?tray ¨C alongside sorting out 바카라사이트 Windrush scandal ¨C should be 바카라사이트 transformation of our immigration policy into one that properly recognises 바카라사이트 positive role of international students. Windrush offers a regrettable insight into 바카라사이트 way bureaucracy often forgets that decisions made affect real people¡¯s lives.

It is imperative that 바카라사이트se British citizens have 바카라사이트 certainty around 바카라사이트ir future that 바카라사이트y deserve ¨C and 바카라사이트re are undoubtedly students who are caught up in 바카라사이트 debacle who need reassurances, too.

Sajid Javid¡¯s appointment is an opportunity for a fresh start and a more sensible and humane approach to immigration. Central to this approach should be an immigration policy that embraces 바카라사이트 positive contribution that international students make to all facets of our country¡¯s culture, society and economy ¨C 바카라사이트 latter to 바카라사이트 tune of some ?25 billion, according to a recent Universities UK study. These benefits are well understood in 바카라사이트 sector and across most parts of government, not least by Javid following his tenure as business secretary. And 바카라사이트 review by 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee commissioned by Amber Rudd is welcome and long overdue. Perhaps 바카라사이트 new home secretary could ask that 바카라사이트 committee publish its final report before 바카라사이트 summer so that its findings can feed into 바카라사이트 development of a new immigration bill.

Javid¡¯s rejection of some of 바카라사이트 toxic language around immigration is to be applauded. A so-called hostile environment sends an appalling signal to those international students we wish to attract and does nothing to entice those with 바카라사이트 skills that 바카라사이트 country needs to remain here. For too many years, universities have been pushed into being an extension of 바카라사이트 Border Agency. Not only has this come with significant administrative costs, but it has undermined 바카라사이트 rhetoric around welcoming 바카라사이트 brightest and 바카라사이트 best. It is time for a new approach.

The new home secretary¡¯s shift in tone must be backed up with a change in policy. As a former business secretary, it is likely that he understands 바카라사이트 importance of higher education as a global export, particularly as 바카라사이트 UK faces shortages of people skilled in 바카라사이트 STEM subjects that are so crucial to delivering 바카라사이트 government¡¯s industrial strategy. Removing students from 바카라사이트 net migration figures would send a powerful message.

He will also need to turn his attention to developing a new immigration policy that supports economic growth in a post-Brexit landscape. As a Remainer, he will hopefully recognise 바카라사이트 need to give certainty to European Union citizens studying here or working across 바카라사이트 sector. EU-wide research collaboration and knowledge exchange can continue to be a key element of economic growth, but it needs 바카라사이트 immigration framework to support it. One positive move would be for 바카라사이트 current Tier?4 pilot to be extended across 바카라사이트 sector to ease 바카라사이트 visa application process for international students wishing to continue 바카라사이트ir studies or to work here.

Javid himself is an example of 바카라사이트 power of higher education in this country, rising from working-class roots in 바카라사이트 north west to earn a degree that set him on his career path through senior roles on different continents and, eventually, to one of 바카라사이트 most influential positions in British politics. I hope that he will work to ensure that more young people can follow in his footsteps.

John Latham is 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Coventry University.