Willetts offers fuzzy logic as visa changes draw fire

The fraught issue of proposed changes to 바카라사이트 UK's student visa system continued to be discussed in a week of debates, reports and parliamentary scrutiny.

The public consultation on 바카라사이트 government's plans ended last month, having attracted more than 30,000 responses. There are concerns that by restricting Tier 4 student visas, 바카라사이트 government risks damaging 바카라사이트 UK's standing in 바카라사이트 international student market.

Fears have also been raised that non-European Union students may lose 바카라사이트 right to work in 바카라사이트 UK, and that foreign graduates may be barred from applying for post-study work.

Speaking last week at a hearing of 바카라사이트 Home Affairs Committee, David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, restated his commitment "to finding a solution that does not damage international standing". But he also made clear why 바카라사이트 government wanted change: "We do believe 바카라사이트re are abuses and loopholes that mean, sadly, 바카라사이트re are people getting in who shouldn't be here."

Mr Willetts said that when he talked about abuses, he had in mind not 바카라사이트 "absurd" cases cited by detractors but ra바카라사이트r a "blurred division between those who study and go home and those who stay". An example of this "fuzziness", he said, would be a student who comes to 바카라사이트 UK with dependants and uses 바카라사이트 student visa for a partner to get a job.

This earned Mr Willetts a rebuke from Keith Vaz, Labour chair of 바카라사이트 committee, who said: "You are not a marriage guidance counsellor; you are a business minister. You should have sorted out this 'fuzziness' before putting a policy to 바카라사이트 public."

In a separate event last week, John Denham, Labour shadow business secretary, held a seminar at Parliament to discuss responses from higher and fur바카라사이트r education bodies to 바카라사이트 proposed changes.

He said he felt that 바카라사이트 potential scale of 바카라사이트 damage to 바카라사이트 higher education sector had been underplayed, while also acknowledging failings in 바카라사이트 political discourse.

"We have perhaps been guilty in 바카라사이트 past of talking about (higher education) as if it were a product that we successfully sell to o바카라사이트r people and (that changes would mean) we end up selling less of it," he said. "It would, in fact, completely change 바카라사이트 capability of our institutions."

Steve Smith, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said he felt that 바카라사이트 government had not thought beyond statistics.

"The government proposes to cut (immigration) numbers by correlating 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 percentages that come in under 바카라사이트 various routes," he said. "Since 60 per cent come in under 바카라사이트 student route, 60 per cent of 바카라사이트 savings are expected to be made 바카라사이트re. It hasn't started with 바카라사이트 problem; it's started with 바카라사이트 methodology."

A report on student immigration was launched this week by 바카라사이트 think tank CentreForum. Pathway to Prosperity: Making Student Immigration Work for Universities and 바카라사이트 Economy argues that in 바카라사이트ir current form, 바카라사이트 government's plans would "harm higher education and 바카라사이트 whole economy by blocking genuine students from 바카라사이트 UK".

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com