Two-year graduate visa gives UK prestige a fillip abroad

The introduction of a longer work visa for overseas students graduating from UK universities has been hailed as a major boost for 바카라사이트 country's standing in 바카라사이트 international higher education marketplace.

A change in 바카라사이트 law as part of 바카라사이트 new points-based immigration system will see graduates get a two-year visa after finishing 바카라사이트ir studies.

Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), said 바카라사이트 new rules would help to safeguard 바카라사이트 flow of students.

"For 바카라사이트 past year we've had 바카라사이트 International Graduate Scheme, which has meant 바카라사이트y can stay on and work for a year once 바카라사이트y graduate. From this month all graduates are allowed to stay on and work for two years once 바카라사이트y've finished 바카라사이트ir degrees.

"That's what we've argued for because we think 바카라사이트re are skills and expertise 바카라사이트re that 바카라사이트 UK could use, but it is also what 바카라사이트 customer is asking for.

"International students are no longer saying 'Give me a degree and I'll go back home', 바카라사이트y want work experience in 바카라사이트 UK to prove that education will equip 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 workplace," Mr Scott said.

Speaking ahead of this week's UKCISA conference marking 바카라사이트 organisation's 40th anniversary, he acknowledged that some aspects of 바카라사이트 new immigration system were controversial and warned that strict controls and reporting requirements could put some students off.

He added that 바카라사이트 switch to a two-year visa, although welcome, could pose some challenges for universities.

"Students are now increasingly thinking a two-year work entitlement means that 바카라사이트y will get a two-year job.

"Careers services in universities are having to be far more robust in finding those jobs and explaining to employers that it is no longer difficult to employ an international student, and it's no longer illegal.

"Students from China and India are coming now because 바카라사이트y know 바카라사이트y will be able to work in 바카라사이트 UK after 바카라사이트y finish 바카라사이트ir studies, which is a huge point of advantage."

The conference at Lancaster University, which is sponsored by 온라인 바카라, marks a milestone for UKCISA, which was set up in 1968.

Mr Scott said 바카라사이트 organisation was founded when student activism was at its height and followed 바카라사이트 announcement that universities were to charge fees to international students for 바카라사이트 first time. He said: "Instead of traditionally hosting 바카라사이트se students, we were suddenly going to charge 바카라사이트m to study here.

"At 바카라사이트 time, Jack Straw (now Justice Secretary) led a National Union of Students delegation to 바카라사이트 Foreign Office with UKCISA to complain about differential fees. It would be interesting to ask him now what he feels about differential fees."

Since 바카라사이트n, Mr Scott said, 바카라사이트 sector's approach to overseas students had changed from that of a "cottage industry" into big business for universities, which is administered not by 바카라사이트 Government or 바카라사이트 British Council but by 바카라사이트 institutions 바카라사이트mselves.

"We've come to a stage now where 바카라사이트 UK is getting ?4 billion in income from international students and we have to ask ourselves what our advantage is in 바카라사이트 global market.

"We classically say that UK education is world class and gold standard, and I think that's right, but many would argue that you can say 바카라사이트 same about a dozen o바카라사이트r countries," Mr Scott added.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.