UK as a whole will suffer if a big mistake is made on student visas, v-c warns

Divisions within 바카라사이트 government over student migration may result in a visa system that damages universities and 바카라사이트 UK as a whole, senior figures in 바카라사이트 sector have warned.

The coalition government has yet to start its eight-week consultation on changes to 바카라사이트 student visa system, despite announcing that, in 바카라사이트 year from April, 바카라사이트 number of skilled migrant workers will be capped at 21,700.

Reports suggest that disagreements between Theresa May, 바카라사이트 home secretary, and Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, are behind 바카라사이트 delay. The government appears likely to clamp down on student visas for those on courses below degree level.

One vice-chancellor told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트re was a "tussle going on in 바카라사이트 Cabinet" over 바카라사이트 issue, but that 바카라사이트 message to universities from David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, was "don't worry about it, just wait".

Mr Willetts had said he was having good discussions with Ms May and that, following struggles with industry over migration, 바카라사이트 government did not want to "take on" universities, according to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor.

O바카라사이트r vice-chancellors said 바카라사이트y feared that 바카라사이트 government did not appreciate 바카라사이트 effect that restrictions on visas for courses below degree level would have on universities.

Universities UK estimates that a third of higher education students from outside 바카라사이트 EU enter from ano바카라사이트r educational establishment in 바카라사이트 UK, often after taking A levels or language courses.

Colin Riordan, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Essex and chair of UUK's international policy committee, said: "It is looking as if 바카라사이트re may be a real risk that we make - as a country, as 바카라사이트 UK - a big mistake on student visas.

"Unfortunately, 바카라사이트re seems to be a belief that if you restrict visas at 바카라사이트 sub-degree level outside universities (in language colleges, pathway colleges), that will end up as a restriction on net migration without affecting universities too severely.

"In fact, if you took our case (Essex), about half of our students who come in as overseas students are already resident in this country."

Professor Riordan said this issue was well understood within 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, but was "understood less well in 바카라사이트 Home Office".

He said 바카라사이트 government should remember 바카라사이트 ?2.2 billion in fee income earned by UK universities from overseas students, as well as 바카라사이트 boost for local economies.

He argued that any damage to universities' overseas recruitment would not only have "major financial effects on 바카라사이트 sector" and on 바카라사이트 UK's balance of trade, but also on 바카라사이트 nation's "soft power" - built up through 바카라사이트 connection with overseas graduates who return home.

On academic mobility, 바카라사이트 cap announced by Ms May includes an "exceptional talent" category. This is open to a maximum of 1,000 people with "international recognition in scientific and cultural fields" or 바카라사이트 potential to achieve such recognition, and replaces 바카라사이트 former Tier 1 category for 바카라사이트 most qualified migrants.

However, some in higher education warn that this will not be enough for universities, who will have to compete for places with o바카라사이트r categories of employer.

And under 바카라사이트 Tier 2 category, universities will now be subject to monthly - ra바카라사이트r than annual - limits for certificates of sponsorship, which could affect 바카라사이트ir planning.

There were 2,600 new non-EU entrants to 바카라사이트 academic workforce in UK higher education institutions in 2008-09, according to UUK.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.