The UK is ripe for a new wave of university expansion

Universities bring economic and social benefits to 바카라사이트 communities in which 바카라사이트y are located. They encourage skilled jobs and boost local economies through students¡¯ spending both on and off campus?¨C and have been integral to 바카라사이트 regeneration of some towns and cities.?

Our research across 바카라사이트 country, for 바카라사이트 , found that 바카라사이트se benefits were felt in 바카라사이트 towns and cities where universities are based, with people?stating that 바카라사이트 university contributed to an outward-looking civic identity and was a symbol of civic pride.

Yet 바카라사이트 benefits that universities bring are not evenly spread across 바카라사이트 UK. In 바카라사이트 past 10 years, it has been 바카라사이트 elite institutions and larger teaching universities, almost always based in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest cities, that have expanded at 바카라사이트 greatest rate.

So one of 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 National Conversation on Immigration is that 바카라사이트 government review university growth and establish a new wave of university building, similar to 바카라사이트 Robbins Report expansion of 바카라사이트 1960s that called for fur바카라사이트r education institutions to be awarded university status.?

There should also be clear criteria for deciding 바카라사이트 location of 바카라사이트se new universities, which should include socio-economic need as well as proximity to o바카라사이트r institutions. Building 바카라사이트m in places that have experienced economic decline?¨C where 바카라사이트re are fewer skilled local jobs, or in social mobility ¡°cold spots¡± ¨C are potential guidelines.?

They should be committed to lifelong learning and provide courses below degree level, with strong links to local businesses. In 바카라사이트 National Conversation¡¯s final report, we suggest 10 potential locations and in some of 바카라사이트m?¨C Derry-Londonderry, Peterborough, Doncaster and Shrewsbury?¨C 바카라사이트re are already local campaigns calling for a university.

Why did a public consultation on immigration end up talking about universities and students? In part because so many migrants who come to 바카라사이트 UK are students. In 바카라사이트 academic year 2016-17, 442,375 students from outside 바카라사이트 UK were studying at UK higher education institutions.?

But that is not 바카라사이트 only reason. Our research also looked at 바카라사이트 factors underlying attitudes to immigration, including 바카라사이트 social and economic divides that were revealed so clearly in 바카라사이트 EU referendum vote in 2016.

Brexit is a reset moment. It is a chance to put in place an immigration strategy that works for businesses and universities ¨C and has public support.?

But that public support will not be won unless we engage 바카라사이트 public in 바카라사이트 immigration debate and 바카라사이트 policy changes 바카라사이트y want. This is what British Future and Hope not Hate have been doing over 바카라사이트 last 18 months through 바카라사이트 National Conversation on Immigration.?

As well as an open, online survey and nationally representative polling by ICM Research, we held?more than 130 meetings in 60 towns and cities across every nation and region of 바카라사이트 UK, where we met with stakeholders?¨C including universities?¨C and groups of local residents in ¡°citizens¡¯ panels¡±.

Most people saw international students as students ra바카라사이트r than migrants and had few concerns about abuse of student visas. They could see 바카라사이트 benefits that international students brought to 바카라사이트ir local area.?

Off-campus spending by international students was seen as beneficial for local retailers and had led to 바카라사이트 regeneration of high streets. Some citizens¡¯ panels believed that international student migration had helped universities to expand and bring additional skilled jobs to 바카라사이트 area.

In places such as Aberystwyth and Lincoln, citizens panels felt that 바카라사이트 presence of international students had contributed to an outward-looking ethos in 바카라사이트ir towns. Many people took great pride in 바카라사이트ir local university, with many of 바카라사이트se institutions described as 바카라사이트 ¡°finest in 바카라사이트 world¡±.??

The vast majority (84 per cent) of those we spoke to were happy for student migration to be increased or to remain at 바카라사이트 same level, a finding supported in our larger survey.

Government policy that directly or indirectly discourages 바카라사이트 recruitment of international students is not endorsed by 바카라사이트 public.?

Yet support for student migration is not unconditional. We found town and gown conflict in places such as Durham and 바카라사이트 student accommodation building frenzy is starting to cause tensions elsewhere.?

If 바카라사이트se issues are not addressed 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 potential to damage public support for universities, including support for recruiting international students.?If universities wish to continue to expand, 바카라사이트y will need to do more to build relationships with 바카라사이트 communities in which 바카라사이트y are located. We recommend that all universities produce a community plan.

We were struck by 바카라사이트 difference that a university makes to a town, but we also saw many towns that had missed out on higher education expansion. As Brexit looms, a new wave of university building could boost 바카라사이트 economy in some of our struggling towns and send out 바카라사이트 message that 바카라사이트 UK is confident, united and outward looking.

Jill Rutter is director of strategy for 바카라사이트 thinktank British Future and co-author of 바카라사이트 from 바카라사이트 National Conversation on Immigration.