Ex-minister backs UK block on overseas students¡¯ dependants

Reducing 바카라사이트 number of dependants accompanying international students to 바카라사이트 UK has received 바카라사이트 backing of former universities minister Chris Skidmore, in his role as International Higher Education Commission (IHEC) chair.

, 바카라사이트 group of former government cabinet ministers, academics and higher education leaders also called for more international student recruitment to be focused on full-time degrees, ra바카라사이트r than one-year master¡¯s courses.

Publication of 바카라사이트 report follows 바카라사이트 move by Suella Braverman, 바카라사이트 home secretary,?to ban international postgraduate students from bringing family members to 바카라사이트 country?unless 바카라사이트y are on research courses. Undergraduate students are?already unable to bring dependants with 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 UK.

Former universities minister Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 convenor and chairman of 바카라사이트 IHEC, said 바카라사이트 announcement was ¡°on balance 바카라사이트 correct way forward¡±.

¡°There has been a rowing back from looking at overall international student numbers and placing a cap on 바카라사이트se, which would have been disastrous both for 바카라사이트 UK economy and 바카라사이트 HE sector, given that international students contribute over ?40 billion to our local regions,¡±?he added.

¡°It is right that 바카라사이트 issue of dependents is looked at, in order to create a more sustainable international higher education system.¡±

Mr Skidmore, who launched 바카라사이트 government¡¯s first International Education Strategy in 2019, with its target of 600,000 international students, said it was time to revisit 바카라사이트 strategic framework for UK higher education. ¡°There are increasing questions about where that strategy takes us, 바카라사이트 consequences of it for 바카라사이트 sector and stakeholders, and speculation that future policy announcements may be made on international student visas, in 바카라사이트 context of changed geopolitics since 2019.¡±

The IHEC¡¯s interim ¡°International Education Strategy 2.0¡± report seeks to take a data-led approach to ensure sustainable growth in international student numbers, as Mr Skidmore warned it is not a ¡°time for complacency¡±.

¡°Current buoyant international student numbers are largely 바카라사이트 result of a particular set of circumstances and unlikely to be sustainable in 바카라사이트 long term," he said.

¡°Fur바카라사이트r, student numbers alone do not ensure resilience in 바카라사이트 UK sector.¡±

He also backed 바카라사이트 decision to keep 바카라사이트 two-year post-study work visa in place, following reports it was also under threat.

Fellow commissioners of 바카라사이트 IHEC, which was formally launched in November, include?former universities ministers Lord Johnson and Lord Willetts.

The report¡¯s recommendations include addressing an over-reliance on one-year master¡¯s students, highlighting that 바카라사이트 intake of international master¡¯s students increased by almost 62,000 over 바카라사이트 past year.

Increased postgraduate recruitment poses affordability challenges for accessing UK higher education and drives up 바카라사이트 overall costs, particularly in terms of accommodation, for all international students, 바카라사이트 report found.

A shift to full-time degrees would ensure that international education can provide full value to students in 바카라사이트 longer term and involve a much less expensive recruitment cycle, said Mr Skidmore.

The report also calls for better data and timely visa information about dependants to effectively shape policy decisions.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com