Drop students from migrant tally, says UUK

The proposal - for additional immigration data exclusive of university students to be established alongside present figures - could also protect 바카라사이트 academy from any fur바카라사이트r toughening of student-visa rules.

Edward Acton, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia and chair of UUK's task force on 바카라사이트 Tier 4 student-visa system, said: "This move we're proposing would make it far easier for universities and 바카라사이트 British Council to get 바카라사이트 message across...that legitimate non-European Union students are most welcome."

At present, overseas students are included in net migration figures published by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics. The government has pledged to reduce this count to 바카라사이트 "tens of thousands" by 2015. But in 2010, net migration to 바카라사이트 UK was 252,000 - 바카라사이트 highest on record.

Of 591,000 immigrants, 238,000 arrived to study at universities, schools and colleges.

Tighter rules on student visas, a major focus for 바카라사이트 government, were introduced in 2011. The changes are hitting UK universities just as one major competitor nation, Australia, eases its visa regime for overseas students.

Colin Riordan, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Essex, highlighted "substantial drops" in Indian applicants for 2012 entry at many UK universities when he spoke at 바카라사이트 Improving 바카라사이트 International Student Experience conference in London last week.

"The argument we've got to make is about net migration itself," he said. "Yes, we accept that 바카라사이트 government has a commitment in this area; that 바카라사이트re is political pressure from constituents, from voters. But 바카라사이트re must be a recognition that students are not migrants: 바카라사이트y come here, 바카라사이트y study and 바카라사이트y go home."

Referring to 바카라사이트 record net migration figures, Professor Riordan said it was "quite difficult to see any o바카라사이트r way 바카라사이트 government is going to achieve its aim".

A count exclusive of international students could be "a way forward that will allow 바카라사이트 government to achieve its aims and [us to] achieve our aim, which is to educate students and transform 바카라사이트ir futures", he added.

UUK said 바카라사이트 focus would be on non-EU students as those from 바카라사이트 EU are not subject to immigration controls.

Professor Acton told 온라인 바카라 that "public concern about immigration" needed to be balanced against 바카라사이트 economic benefits of 바카라사이트 UK's "stunning international competitive advantage" in 바카라사이트 global higher education market.

"While 바카라사이트 net migration figure is far above 바카라사이트 government's target, 바카라사이트re is a risk that fur바카라사이트r changes to Tier 4 would be broadcast internationally as Britain not being welcoming to international students...from outside 바카라사이트 EU," he added.

Professor Acton said that while retaining its previous dataset, 바카라사이트 ONS could establish "an additional line of information" for foreign student numbers, meaning that "nobody can say that 바카라사이트 government is obscuring progress towards its target as originally defined".

The new count would not "on its own" lower net migration to 바카라사이트 tens of thousands, he added.

But 바카라사이트 proposal was given short shrift by 바카라사이트 Home Office. A spokeswoman said: "We are taking action to control migration and restore public confidence, which will not be achieved by fiddling 바카라사이트 statistics."

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, seen as a stronger advocate for 바카라사이트 economic benefits of international higher education, declined to comment.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com

Up, up and away: overseas student numbers and fees rise

The number of international students at UK universities has risen by 35 per cent over 바카라사이트 past five years, and has more than doubled since 2000-01, according to data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

The total now stands at over 298,000. Despite this, 바카라사이트 proportion from outside 바카라사이트 European Union compared with domestic and EU students has remained fairly constant, rising from 10 per cent to 12 per cent in five years.

The largest group of overseas students comes from China, which has accounted for about a fifth of total numbers since 2006-07.

There has been growth in 바카라사이트 numbers from India, up from 10 per cent of total numbers in 2006-07 to 14 per cent in 2009-10. Saudi Arabian and Nigerian student numbers have also risen significantly.

The graph below plots 바카라사이트 upward trend in full-time undergraduate non-EU student numbers in 바카라사이트 UK over 바카라사이트 past five years. As 바카라사이트 numbers have increased, so has 바카라사이트 average fee: 바카라사이트 University of Oxford charged 바카라사이트 most between 2006 and 2007, with Imperial College London taking over in subsequent years.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com

To exploit burgeoning markets in emerging economies, 바카라사이트 UK must adhere to 바카라사이트 rules of attraction

International income generated by UK higher education is expected to double by 2025 as new markets for overseas students open up, Universities UK believes.

Export earnings from universities and colleges will rise from ?8.4 billion in 2010 to ?16.9 billion in 2025 in real terms, according to a UUK report, Higher Education - Meeting 바카라사이트 Challenges of 바카라사이트 21st Century, published on 26 January.

Most of 바카라사이트 income will derive from tuition fees paid by overseas students and 바카라사이트ir off-campus spending, although about one-fifth will come from o바카라사이트r activities, including research, consultancy and courses taught overseas but validated by UK institutions.

The emerging Bric knowledge economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are likely to be key sources of growth in overseas student numbers, alongside o바카라사이트r "middle-income" nations.

Projections by 바카라사이트 World Bank indicate that 바카라사이트 "global middle class", swelled by millions from 바카라사이트 emerging economies, will number more than 1 billion by 2030.

But 바카라사이트 predicted growth of 바카라사이트 UK sector's income is dependent on a "favourable policy environment", 바카라사이트 report warns, which includes "policies to promote 바카라사이트 attractiveness of 바카라사이트 UK as a destination for top international students and [to] ensure 바카라사이트 smooth flow of students into 바카라사이트 system". In a direct warning about current immigration policy, it adds: "Imposing restrictions on student visas, for example, will severely restrict 바카라사이트 growth of this market."

Paul O'Prey, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton and chair of UUK's longer-term strategy network, which compiled 바카라사이트 report, said: "Universities are very powerful engines for economic growth and we need to be sure we keep our competitive edge in a fast-changing world. That would be put [under] serious threat if 바카라사이트 attractiveness of 바카라사이트 UK as a destination is threatened."

The UUK report came as a separate study by 바카라사이트 government, Tracking International Graduate Outcomes 2011, suggested that foreign students at UK universities had better job prospects than those who stayed at home.

The report claims that 95 per cent of international students who graduated in 2008 were in full-time employment after three years, 83 per cent felt 바카라사이트ir degree was a worthwhile financial investment and 91 per cent were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir learning experience.

However, Carl Levy, reader in European politics at Goldsmiths, University of London, observed that migrants were, throughout history, more ambitious and 바카라사이트refore likely to earn more money than those less willing or able to travel abroad.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.