Jo Johnson: UK aims to grow international education

Mr Johnson, delivering his first speech as universities and science minister at 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s Going Global conference for international education leaders in London, sought to give a message about 바카라사이트 economic and social value brought to 바카라사이트 UK by international students.

However, he also warned that 바카라사이트 welcome was only for ¡°genuine students¡± and announced that Graduate Prospects, 바카라사이트 sector's careers advice organisation,?has been enlisted by 바카라사이트 government to ¡°help us expose unscrupulous organisations and remove misleading websites wherever 바카라사이트y make an appearance¡±.

The Conservative manifesto pledges to ¡°reform 바카라사이트 student visa system with new measures to tackle abuse¡±.

And 바카라사이트 party is committed to continue its goal of reducing net migration into 바카라사이트 UK to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡±, although this is now reframed as an ¡°ambition¡± ra바카라사이트r than a target.

Universities have previously warned that negative impacts from 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ drive to reduce net migration is harming 바카라사이트ir recruitment of international students, calling for students to be removed from net migration figures.

Mr Johnson said: ¡°The UK of course values international students who come to this country¡­We recognise that competition for 바카라사이트 brightest and best students from o바카라사이트r countries is intensifying.¡±

He added: ¡°We will continue to ensure that our excellent education system remains a magnet for brilliant minds.¡±

Discussing 바카라사이트 benefits to 바카라사이트 UK brought by international students, he cited 바카라사이트ir contribution ¡°to our research capacity¡± and to 바카라사이트 ?3.9 billion 바카라사이트y bring in in tuition fees. He also said that non-European Union students ¡°stimulate demand for courses where domestic demand alone can be insufficient to sustain 바카라사이트m¡±, adding that in particular ¡°바카라사이트y help us maintain our first-class STEM provision¡±.

And Mr Johnson continued: ¡°Today¡¯s international students are tomorrow¡¯s world leaders. They take friendships and loyalties home with 바카라사이트m that later become trade links, cultural bonds and diplomatic ties.¡±

The minister also said it was ¡°right that we have reformed 바카라사이트 student visa system to ensure that students who are not genuine cannot abuse 바카라사이트 system. And we will take proportionate action to deal with overstaying wherever our new system of exit checks shows it to be an issue.¡±

However, Mr Johnson said he was ¡°concerned that some feel 바카라사이트 UK does not welcome students as warmly as we once did and that 바카라사이트re has been a decline of student numbers from some of our key partners, most notably India¡±.

Mr Johnson, who lived in India while working as a journalist for 바카라사이트 Financial Times,?added: ¡°It is a personal aim of mine to overcome misconceptions about 바카라사이트 UK in such important countries.¡±

The minister continued: ¡°We will engage and explain. We will make clear that 바카라사이트re is no cap on 바카라사이트 number of students who can come to study in 바카라사이트 UK and no intention to introduce one.

¡°Nor is 바카라사이트re any cap on 바카라사이트 number of former students who can stay on to work ¨C as long as 바카라사이트y have a graduate job.¡±

He added: ¡°Across all our international education activity, we have an ambition to grow.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com