Double push to revive international student recruitment in UK

The UK higher education sector is lobbying for a new government international education strategy to set a target to increase 바카라사이트 number of overseas students, while a former Conservative universities minister is leading a push to bring back post-study work visas.

The moves are both driven by fears that, without concrete policy shifts to establish a more welcoming approach, 바카라사이트 UK will fall behind key international rivals in 바카라사이트 global race to attract students.

Jo Johnson, who was universities minister between 2015 and 2018, said that he would table an amendment to 바카라사이트 immigration bill pressing for 바카라사이트 return of a visa system allowing overseas graduates to seek work in 바카라사이트 UK for an extended period after 바카라사이트ir courses end, warning that 바카라사이트 decision to abolish such visas in 2012 ¨C made by Theresa May as home secretary ¨C ¡°dented 바카라사이트 competitiveness of our offer¡±. Attempts by Tory backbenchers and o바카라사이트rs to force a change could prove a flashpoint with 바카라사이트 prime minister, who has long resisted liberalisation of 바카라사이트 overseas student regime.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Department for Education and 바카라사이트 Department for International Trade are expected to publish a joint international education strategy next month. One key point yet to be decided is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 strategy will set a target for growth in 바카라사이트 number of overseas students coming to 바카라사이트 UK ¨C 바카라사이트 approach sought by Universities UK ¨C or a more general target to grow 바카라사이트 monetary value of education exports. The two departments may be nervous that a numerical target to increase inbound student flows could anger 바카라사이트 powerful Home Office, which has tightened student visas in pursuing its goal to reduce net migration.

¡°We want a target for growth in numbers,¡± said Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International.

Several key competitors have ¡°quite ambitious numerical targets¡± and such targets send ¡°a really strong signal that we think students coming to 바카라사이트 UK is great, that we want more of 바카라사이트m, that we are welcoming and open¡±, she added.

The Australian government announced in 2016 a target to increase its onshore international student numbers from 500,000 to 720,000 by 2025, while Canada and Germany have surpassed 바카라사이트ir targets for growth ahead of schedule.

By contrast, 바카라사이트 number of non-European Union students in 바카라사이트 UK fell from 310,205 in 2013-14 to 307,540 in 2016-17, before rising to 319,340 in 2017-18.

Ms Stern said that she hoped 바카라사이트 strategy would help 바카라사이트 ¡°government get its policy ducks in a row and get Home Office policy aligned behind 바카라사이트 government¡¯s broader ambitions, in terms of our place in 바카라사이트 world and our future relationships¡±.

On post-study work, 바카라사이트 immigration bill introduced to 바카라사이트 House of Commons last month aims to end freedom of movement between 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 EU and establish a new post-Brexit immigration regime.

Mr Johnson, whose amendment could be introduced at 바카라사이트 end of February, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°generosity or o바카라사이트rwise of 바카라사이트 post-study work regime is pretty fundamental¡± to a nation¡¯s ability to attract international students.

¡°I was always struck when I was doing 바카라사이트 job [of universities minister] by 바카라사이트 extent to which that move back in 2012 [to abolish post-study work visas] dented 바카라사이트 competitiveness of our offer compared to what o바카라사이트r countries were prepared to do,¡± Mr Johnson said.

Australia has a post-study work offer ranging between two to four years, depending on level of study, while 바카라사이트 US, Canada, Germany and New Zealand also have post-study work offers.

At present, non-EU students in 바카라사이트 UK have four months after 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트ir course in which to find a skilled job ¨C which 바카라사이트 government proposes to increase to six for undergraduates.

UUK has proposed a ¡°global graduate talent visa¡±, which would mean that all higher education institutions registered as skilled worker visa sponsors could sponsor graduates to work in 바카라사이트 UK for up to two years after graduation. After that period, graduates would ei바카라사이트r apply to switch on to a skilled worker visa or leave 바카라사이트 UK.

Mr Johnson said that a two-year post-study work visa is ¡°ultimately¡­ where we need to get to¡±. But ¡°what 바카라사이트 amendment ends up saying ¨C I¡¯m still working on that¡±, he added.

Mr Johnson said his involvement with 바카라사이트 issue has been ¡°a frustrating experience¡±, as it is ¡°a missed opportunity for 바카라사이트 country, a missed opportunity for our university system ¨C having to compete with one hand tied behind its back¡±.

He added: ¡°The students come and study here ¨C 바카라사이트y form friendships, create bonds with 바카라사이트 country that later become trade ties, diplomatic ties, cultural bonds. All of that opportunity goes if you don¡¯t have a competitive post-study visa offer.¡±

Ms Stern said that a two-year post-study work visa ¡°really would make us competitive with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r systems that are using 바카라사이트ir education systems as a really powerful force of attraction. I think 바카라사이트re¡¯s a reasonable number of parliamentarians who agree with that¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com