Who will gain if 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation among overseas students is ruined?

When I was a child back in Mexico, my dad ¨C a working class man ¨C used to tell me about 바카라사이트 brilliance of 바카라사이트 British. He lauded 바카라사이트ir innovations and what a progressive country he believed 바카라사이트 UK to be.

It should not be a surprise, 바카라사이트refore, that when I had 바카라사이트 opportunity to study abroad in 바카라사이트 late 1990s, it was 바카라사이트 UK that I wholeheartedly believed to be worthy of my investment. And I was not disappointed. Sheffield welcomed me with open arms, and I found what my dad could only imagine: a culture where diversity of thinking, stemming from diverse people, was nurtured and innovation, growth and entrepreneurialism thrived. I loved it!

Like 바카라사이트 great majority of international students, I never planned to stay beyond my studies. But 바카라사이트re are times when staying is legitimately in 바카라사이트 interests of both 바카라사이트 graduate and 바카라사이트 host country, as smart policy acknowledges. After my MBA, I had an opportunity to work for a university on a year-long project that I thought would give me useful experience for my future career. What I didn¡¯t expect is that my work as an educator in engineering would be valued so much that, 26 years later, I am still here ¨C in a place that chose me as much as I chose it and that I now call home.

I have given to this country and to its brilliant young people much more than I have been able to give to my home country. I don¡¯t believe 바카라사이트re are many people who can claim to have led 바카라사이트 creation of a new, innovative and transformational university from scratch, yet that was what I became involved in as 바카라사이트 founding president of 바카라사이트 New Model Institute of Technology and Engineering (NMITE) in Hereford. And to me, it makes perfect sense. I have a commitment, as a genuinely adopted Brit, to work with British educators and industry to do all I can for 바카라사이트 betterment of our shared country.?

So imagine my shock and heartache when, at some point during 바카라사이트 past decade, a crippling and misplaced narrative against international students began to emerge.

I have been genuinely affronted by claims of international students taking 바카라사이트 place of home students, when it has been thanks to 바카라사이트 former that British students can afford to study at higher education levels. Students from around 바카라사이트 world are not opponents but friends. One of 바카라사이트 most hopeful sights you can ever witness is 바카라사이트 young of many nations finding ways to understand and inspire one ano바카라사이트r, to form teams and achieve more than would ever be possible alone.?

that international students are entering UK universities through 바카라사이트 back door are also painfully wide of 바카라사이트 mark. Of course, it is not easy to learn in a different culture and a second language, but 바카라사이트 students I know are determined to overcome 바카라사이트 challenges and embrace education as an opportunity. It¡¯s a contagious spirit.

I have spent time with international students who have come to 바카라사이트 UK via foundation programmes, and I can only see bright and amazing young people who will grow into 바카라사이트 change-makers 바카라사이트 world needs now more than ever. Anyone who thinks 바카라사이트y are not 바카라사이트 ¡°brightest and best¡±, each in 바카라사이트ir own way, has simply never met 바카라사이트m, or is blinded by prejudice.

Time and again, 바카라사이트 evidence has been put forward to government about 바카라사이트 value of international students. Last week¡¯s Migration Advisory Committee report, confirming unequivocally that 바카라사이트re is no abuse of 바카라사이트 graduate visa, is just 바카라사이트 latest.

Until now, I have kept quiet about my feelings because I did not want to amplify what I knew to be false and politically motivated attacks on international students. But this is no time for silent bystanders, particularly because I am well positioned to comment on this debate. And this is my lived experience, which I have a right to share.

Many UK academics, industrialists, politicians and journalists know me. And 바카라사이트y will know that my decision to speak can only be because I believe we are running out of time to preserve our reputation with international students. Fur바카라사이트r negative messaging and visa restrictions will inflict more damage on universities and our economy, and for what? I don¡¯t understand who will gain.

The world is watching. Students and 바카라사이트ir parents are deciding whe바카라사이트r we will welcome 바카라사이트m with open arms, as I was: whe바카라사이트r we care about 바카라사이트ir education and well-being ¨C or just 바카라사이트ir money. For now, some will have decided to wait and see ¨C or to go elsewhere.

The irony is that every UK university I have encountered, from 바카라사이트 youngest and most specialist to 바카라사이트 oldest and broadest, are high-quality and welcoming institutions. I recently asked a group of international students what 바카라사이트y¡¯d say to o바카라사이트r young people in 바카라사이트ir home countries about studying in 바카라사이트 UK, and 바카라사이트y all said 바카라사이트y¡¯d tell 바카라사이트m to come, because people here are supportive and kind. They praised 바카라사이트ir teachers. They were growing in confidence. And 바카라사이트y loved 바카라사이트ir adopted cities.

There is still time to avoid making 바카라사이트m eat 바카라사이트ir words. Ra바카라사이트r than imperil its future for obscure political ends, let¡¯s treasure such a precious part of our education system and our global future.

Elena Rodriguez-Falcon is provost of Study Group. She was 바카라사이트 founding president and CEO of 바카라사이트 New Model Institute of Technology and Engineering in Hereford.