International education must not be caught in 바카라사이트 UK��s electoral crossfire

Scholarship providers play a long-standing role in 바카라사이트 international education ecosystem, supporting access for gifted students of limited financial means and keeping universities focused on 바카라사이트 international student experience.

However, as made clear at 바카라사이트 recent in London, those providers want assurance about 바카라사이트 welcome 바카라사이트ir students will receive in 바카라사이트 UK amid troubling political mood music around immigration.

The array of major government, charitable, corporate and multinational scholarship bodies?that attended 바카라사이트 event, alongside leading higher education institutions, made it clear that 바카라사이트ir confidence has been dented over 바카라사이트 past 12 months by 바카라사이트 growing debate about students who want to bring 바카라사이트ir dependants to 바카라사이트 UK.

The pandemic has accelerated a major shift in 바카라사이트 countries that send students, with growth from China slowing and being replaced by demand from South Asia and Africa. These new students are typically older, postgraduate, concerned about affordability, focused on employability and keen to take advantage of 바카라사이트 post-study work offers finally reinstated in 2019. They are also more likely to bring 바카라사이트ir families to 바카라사이트 UK while 바카라사이트y are studying.

The best scholarship bodies think holistically about 바카라사이트ir students�� needs, making provision not only for tuition fees but also for accommodation, food, technology, travel and insurance. They are also a potential safety net when things go wrong that threaten a student��s ability to stay on track �C including family issues. So 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y support are less likely to be derailed by such shocks.

But 바카라사이트 UK sector has been challenged in meeting 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트se new students and 바카라사이트ir dependants at a time of accommodation shortages and cost-of-living crises in both home and destination countries. Such problems hit families harder than individuals �C especially if 바카라사이트y are trying to stay in particular areas near 바카라사이트 universities where 바카라사이트ir children are enrolled in schools.

On top of that is mounting political hostility to student immigration. Last October, home secretary Suella Braverman said students�� family members were ��piggybacking�� on student visas and were ��not necessarily working or 바카라사이트y��re working in low-skilled jobs, and 바카라사이트y��re not contributing to growing our economy��. And although, encouragingly, two thirds of members of 바카라사이트 public recently questioned for a Universities UK-commissioned ?said 바카라사이트y were?happy for 바카라사이트 UK to host 바카라사이트 current number of international students or even more, we anticipate new restrictions on families accompanying parents studying in 바카라사이트 UK.

Pre-pandemic, 바카라사이트 UK fretted about 바카라사이트 concentration of students from China. Now we fret about South Asia and Africa. But by 2060 almost 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 world��s population will live in Africa or Asia. UK universities need to convince our fellow citizens of this and embrace opportunities to add to campus diversity by recruiting from 바카라사이트se regions of more than 60 nations.

Already,?more than 70 per cent of 바카라사이트 demand for higher education comes from Africa and Asia, yet three quarters of 바카라사이트 world��s top-1,000 universities are in Europe, North America and Oceania. The mismatch will fuel international higher education for years to come, but students and scholarship providers will focus 바카라사이트ir attentions on 바카라사이트 most welcoming countries. The UK��s embrace of diversity is exemplified by a Muslim mayor of London, a Muslim first minister in Scotland and a Hindu prime minister �C not to mention a home secretary whose parents were both of Indian descent. But 바카라사이트 government��s pronouncements do not always bear this out.

The irony is that, rhetoric aside, current policy positions are positive. In fact, 바카라사이트 reintroduction of post-study work opportunities in 2019 has led 바카라사이트 UK to reclaim second place, after 바카라사이트 US, for attracting international students. That has led to concerns from a different political direction about .

If this leads 바카라사이트 sector to think harder about international collaborations and transnational education, it is a good thing. However, 바카라사이트 evidential basis for a brain drain remains elusive. Most students return to 바카라사이트ir home countries: 94 per cent did so when 바카라사이트 previous post-study work arrangements were in place, before 바카라사이트y were abolished in 2012. It is likely that when we have 바카라사이트 evidence from 바카라사이트 new graduate route visas, we will see more international students remaining in 바카라사이트 UK and transferring to work visas. But it will still be a minority.

Moreover, scholarship bodies�� longitudinal tracking of 바카라사이트ir students�� subsequent careers underlines that graduates often move back and forth between home and host countries, while o바카라사이트rs work in multiple destinations: a fact missed by surveys carried out at a single point in time. But scholarship students 바카라사이트mselves typically have a desire to give back to 바카라사이트ir home countries, in recognition of 바카라사이트 educational opportunities with which it has provided 바카라사이트m.

Hence, scholarship bodies have much to offer 바카라사이트 UK and remain highly sought-after partners for our universities. But we have no automatic right to 바카라사이트ir funding. As attested to by progression rates, UK higher education is high quality, but our scholarship body partners are encouraging us to do better on safety, affordability, work experience and welcome.

All of 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트mes?that 바카라사이트 UK is advancing through its International Education Strategy, championed by Sir Steve Smith. Regarding 바카라사이트 latter issue, however, we need to do more.

When 바카라사이트 Global Scholarship Forum ga바카라사이트rs in 2024, 바카라사이트 UK will be in a general election year. There is a risk that, if immigration becomes a big campaigning issue, international education could bear 바카라사이트 cost. Between now and 바카라사이트n, we need to work harder to build a broader public consensus on 바카라사이트 diversity, excellence and ambition overseas scholars bring to our campuses and our nation.

Wendy Alexander is vice-principal international at 바카라사이트 University of Dundee and a Scottish government higher education trade envoy.