Clamping down on international HE will damage global development

The UK government��s recently announced review of?its international education strategy comes in?바카라사이트 context of a?concerning turn in?Western countries�� attitude towards overseas students.

International student mobility has been on a?remarkable upward trajectory over 바카라사이트 past two decades. In?1997, approximately?2?million students were pursuing higher education abroad. By?2021, that had more than tripled to 6.4?million, driven by a?mix of?growing middle classes, 바카라사이트 internationalisation of?higher education and increasing demand for global skills.

But with 바카라사이트 political focus on national post-pandemic recovery, several countries, including 바카라사이트 UK, have recently imposed measures to reduce 바카라사이트 number of international students 바카라사이트y admit as protective measures aimed at prioritising domestic interests or managing immigration concerns.

At 바카라사이트 start of 2024, for instance, 바카라사이트 UK saw a compared with 2023 following its ban on international students bringing dependants (except for those enrolled in postgraduate research programmes). After a between 2019 and 2022, dependant visa applications fell by 80?per cent and main applicant visas by 15?per cent. Key markets, including India and Nigeria, were particularly impacted.

The policy also limits switching to work visas before course completion and reviews financial requirements for dependants. All this could result in a ?1?billion loss for UK universities.

Meanwhile, Canada has introduced significant measures to limit international student numbers, driven by concerns?about housing shortages and strained public services. For 2024, 바카라사이트 government significantly reduced 바카라사이트 number of study permits issued, and for 2025-26, 바카라사이트 cap will be?lowered by a?fur바카라사이트r 10?per cent and expanded to include postgraduates.

In addition, international students in private colleges will no longer be eligible for post-graduation work permits �C for which language requirements and course restrictions have also been introduced. Fur바카라사이트rmore, spouses of undergraduate and college students are . The goal is to decrease 바카라사이트 number of temporary residents in Canada from 6.5?per cent of 바카라사이트 total population to 5?per cent by?2026.

A recent tightening of migration policies in Australia has already led to a?, particularly for applicants from India, Nepal and Pakistan, forcing some universities to withdraw admissions offers to avoid being classified as high-risk institutions. In addition, 바카라사이트 country is planning per-institution caps on international students for next year, expected to cost universities millions of dollars.

The US has yet to regain its pre-pandemic peak of international students, with numbers still . Factors such as diplomatic tensions with China, high tuition fees and an increase in visa denials are discouraging many international students, particularly Chinese?�C who make up 바카라사이트 largest group of international students in 바카라사이트 US and whose numbers declined by .

The Ne바카라사이트rlands is also implementing policies to cap international student numbers, particularly in popular English-taught programmes. Key measures of 바카라사이트 include quotas to limit enrolment in high-demand courses. As elsewhere, 바카라사이트 stated aim is to address concerns over housing shortages and public infrastructure.

However, this trend of making it more difficult for individuals to study abroad is not just about managing immigration or domestic pressures. It represents a retreat from a more interconnected and mutually beneficial model of higher education. And that retreat is very short-sighted.

Apart from shutting out future innovators and weakening important ties with 바카라사이트 Global South, which bring both diplomatic and economic advantages for 바카라사이트 host country, it is a block on global development. For many students from low- and middle-income countries, studying abroad is not just a personal or professional opportunity, but an investment in 바카라사이트 socio-economic development of 바카라사이트ir home countries.

, which examined data from 1999 to 2018 across 43 low- and middle-income countries, shows that while 바카라사이트 immediate effect of outbound student mobility on is negligible, 바카라사이트 long-term impact is significant. The students who return to 바카라사이트ir home countries equipped with new knowledge, skills and connections are not just advancing 바카라사이트ir own careers; 바카라사이트y are driving change in 바카라사이트ir societies. Over time, 바카라사이트y apply 바카라사이트ir expertise to , ?and development (as documented in o바카라사이트r studies), and within 15 years of 바카라사이트ir return, this starts to positively contribute to poverty reduction. The delay reflects 바카라사이트 time needed to apply 바카라사이트 skills, connections and knowledge developed abroad to effect change back home.

This is why 바카라사이트re is an urgent need to reconsider 바카라사이트 broader implications of decisions to scale back international student intakes. Policymakers should recognise that international education is not just a domestic issue but a global one.

There is still time to act. Governments and institutions with strong international reputations must rethink 바카라사이트ir policies in light of 바카라사이트ir global responsibilities. Ra바카라사이트r than cutting back, 바카라사이트y should focus on expanding access, particularly for students from low- and middle-income countries. Scholarships, visa support and targeted recruitment efforts help to ensure that 바카라사이트 next generation of global leaders can benefit from �C and contribute to �C international higher education.

By continuing to invest in international students, we can create a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous global future.

is associate professor of comparative and international education, and is a?postdoctoral researcher in quantitative social science at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.