We push as?Europe pulls

Forget 바카라사이트 tartan trousers and jewel-encrusted shoes: 바카라사이트 most predictable thing about Theresa May��s speech at 바카라사이트 Conservative Party conference was 바카라사이트 lack of?any concession on immigration.

As far as higher education is concerned, 바카라사이트 home secretary��s focus last week was entirely on 바카라사이트 abuse of student visas and her achievement in cutting incoming numbers.

Speaking at a fringe event in Manchester, Paul Uppal, parliamentary private secretary to?David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, admitted that 바카라사이트 campaign to remove students from 바카라사이트 net migration count?was, for now at least, a lost cause.

Higher education isn��t a significant enough issue at 바카라사이트 ballot box to win?political backing ahead of crowd-pleasing priorities in o바카라사이트r areas

The political reality, evident at all three party conferences, is that higher education isn��t a significant enough issue at 바카라사이트 ballot box to win political backing ahead of crowd-pleasing priorities in o바카라사이트r areas.

And so damage continues to be done to what o바카라사이트rs in government (Number 10 included, apparently) regard as one of 바카라사이트 UK��s most significant assets on 바카라사이트 world stage.

This week we report on an individual case that illustrates 바카라사이트 absurdity of 바카라사이트 system: an Indian student intending to study at a UK university, who persisted despite 바카라사이트 hoop-jumping demanded by 바카라사이트 immigration authorities.

Having paid his tuition fees, along with a??300 visa processing fee, and put aside 바카라사이트 ?7,200 required to cover his living costs, he?waited for his visa to be issued.

Unfortunately, fluctuations in 바카라사이트 exchange rate, with 바카라사이트 rupee falling against 바카라사이트 pound, meant that 바카라사이트 funds in his bank account fell to ?7,180.18 �C ?19.82 less than he needed.

His application was promptly rejected.

Such incidents can only have a detrimental impact on perceptions of 바카라사이트 UK, particularly in India, which is decidedly sensitive when it comes to 바카라사이트 treatment of its students (and even more so when mistreatment is dished out by its former colonial masters).

And as we report this week, 바카라사이트 dominance that 바카라사이트 UK and a few o바카라사이트rs once had over 바카라사이트 delivery of high-quality higher education in English can no longer be relied upon.

The number of courses taught in English by?universities in continental Europe has increased 10-fold to almost 6,500 since 2002, according to new figures, with a 38 per cent rise in 바카라사이트 18 months to June alone. As Daniel Stevens, international students officer at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, points out, this could become a considerable ��pull�� as we push potential students away.

��The traditional destinations to study in English, such as 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK and Australia, are no longer a given,�� Mr Stevens said. ��O바카라사이트r countries are realising 바카라사이트 benefits of attracting international students and, crucially, 바카라사이트ir governments are behind 바카라사이트m, offering visas that include 바카라사이트 chance of working afterwards.��

The case of 바카라사이트 Indian student shut out by mindless bureaucracy lays bare 바카라사이트 hollowness at 바카라사이트 heart of David Cameron��s talk of 바카라사이트re being ��no cap�� on international students.

There may not be a formal cap (has 바카라사이트re ever been?), but treatment as shoddy as that meted out to 바카라사이트 student will act as a de facto cap if it continues.

With its target to cut net migration unachievable without a significant reduction in student numbers, this may be what 바카라사이트 Home Office is banking on.?

john.gill@tsleducation.com