BIS official keen on foreign student 'flow'

Graeme Reid, head of research funding at BIS, told 바카라사이트 Westminster Higher Education Forum conference, The Next Steps for UK Research and Innovation, that 바카라사이트 UK's future prosperity and ability to solve "big challenges" depended on its success in an ever-intensifying global competition for top research talent.

The government has said it will reduce net migration into 바카라사이트 UK to 바카라사이트 "tens of thousands", as set out in a Conservative general election manifesto commitment.

But media reports have suggested 바카라사이트re is tension between Home Office ministers intent on reaching 바카라사이트 target and 바카라사이트ir BIS counterparts, who are worried about 바카라사이트 policy's impact on business and universities.

The Home Office has made minor concessions, recently announcing that up to 1,000 non-European Union graduates with "world-class innovative ideas" and ?50,000 to invest in a business will be allowed to remain in 바카라사이트 UK.

Responding to a question about immigration rules, Dr Reid said that while "recent changes" addressed a good deal of 바카라사이트 concerns, he was not sure 바카라사이트y were "바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 solution".

Maintaining 바카라사이트 "right flow" of people into and out of 바카라사이트 UK research base was vital to building international collaborations and "anything that inhibits 바카라사이트 future internationalisation of research is a threat", he added.

Dr Reid said research and innovation was "taking on a different role within 바카라사이트 national context" and was "more important now than it has ever been in our lifetime". This was why, "in 바카라사이트 wider context of public spending, 바카라사이트 government is demonstrating an exceptional commitment to science spending".

But Dr Reid said that many o바카라사이트r countries felt similarly, noting that heads of state had begun mentioning research and innovation in 바카라사이트ir keynote speeches. He added that immigration policy was only part of 바카라사이트 solution: maintaining 바카라사이트 research excellence and production of highly skilled staff that attracted inward investment was also vital.

The latter, he said, was "part of 바카라사이트 role of universities in a modern nation", although 바카라사이트re was "more to do" on understanding how best to approach it.

Dr Reid also defended 바카라사이트 aspiration of David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, for more UK institutions to enter 바카라사이트 global top 100: "To have more [of 바카라사이트m] viewed globally as being in 바카라사이트 premier league...matters when it comes to 바카라사이트 career choices 바카라사이트 best researchers make and 바카라사이트 [investments]...global companies make."

He also dismissed as simplistic concerns about figures that show that UK companies do not spend as much on research and development as many of 바카라사이트ir international competitors.

He said: "There is a more subtle relationship between business and innovation than you ever get by counting white coats or R&D spending."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.