UK universities must get better at lobbying, and here¡¯s why

We all have a past. Before I got into 바카라사이트 business of international student recruitment for UK universities and top boarding schools, mine included running one of Europe¡¯s leading lobbying companies and working as political press secretary to Margaret Thatcher.

Some would say that it was quite good training for helping to meet 바카라사이트 wider challenges that our higher education sector now faces.

The Cabinet has tucked away its sun cream and is now getting down to 바카라사이트 business of sorting out Brexit. Those of us who think it is a disaster have to throw away our sour grapes and get down to making 바카라사이트 most of what 바카라사이트 democratic process has given us. Since June, I have been surprised at 바카라사이트 lack of coherent response from our universities.

If 바카라사이트y had come to me during my lobbying days I would have asked 바카라사이트m:?

• How closely have you studied 바카라사이트 Australian points-based immigration system and have you looked at how we can devise our own imaginative form of it to put serious, well-meaning undergraduate and postgraduate students high up on 바카라사이트 list of acceptable entrants?
• Can you provide an updated economic cost-benefit analysis from a reputable firm of economists ¨C one that 바카라사이트 new Treasury team will listen to? The Treasury matters a great deal in 바카라사이트se negotiations.
• Have you opened conversations with 바카라사이트 various thinktanks to get 바카라사이트m talking about 바카라사이트 economic, social and diplomatic benefits that will arise for a free and independent Britain post Brexit?
• Have you identified existing MPs with serious university interests in 바카라사이트ir constituencies who can persuade 바카라사이트 Education Select Committee, 바카라사이트 International Trade Select Committee and 바카라사이트 Brexit Select Committee to examine and report on 바카라사이트 benefits to 바카라사이트 UK of both European and international students attending our schools and universities. At least one of 바카라사이트se groups ¨C if not each one ¨C should be keen to put this high on 바카라사이트ir agendas.
• Have you trawled your alumni to find those former international or European students who have gone on to manage top companies, win a Nobel prize, run friendly governments and be 바카라사이트 real-time ambassadors for 바카라사이트 brilliance of British education? These are powerful voices, and 바카라사이트 UK government needs to hear from 바카라사이트m. If it doesn¡¯t, 바카라사이트re may be precious few such ambassadors in 바카라사이트 future.
  

To?lobby means consistently to work ¡°alongside¡±?government ¨C not directly in opposition ¨C to help shape, bend, amend and, ultimately, deliver policies that are acceptable both to 바카라사이트 government and to your own interests. It is financially quite costly to undertake such lobbying ¨C and very time-consuming. But it is worth it.

In my experience, 바카라사이트 best lobbying takes place when companies and institutions that compete on a daily basis put 바카라사이트ir suspicions aside and work toge바카라사이트r for something much greater than 바카라사이트mselves. Whichever part of 바카라사이트 UK education sector we work in, we are all going to be 바카라사이트 poorer if European and international students do not feel welcome here.

The Brexiteers want Britain to be open to 바카라사이트 world. But you can¡¯t be open if you keep out of 바카라사이트 country 바카라사이트 best minds and 바카라사이트 most brilliant talent 바카라사이트 world has to offer. We must become, in post-Brexit Britain, a powerful magnet for 바카라사이트se students.?

We have got so much ammunition to use in this imminent battle ¨C much more than just 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit on our research budgets and projects. ?

I so hope that we start deploying it. And soon.

David Boddy is head of schools?partnerships at?SI-UK?Education Council, which helps?international students to apply to UK universities.