Graduate visa review ¡®can¡¯t be allowed to threaten its existence¡¯

The UK sector is still awaiting clarity from government on 바카라사이트 scope of its review of 바카라사이트 post-study work visa, amid fears 바카라사이트 Home Office will seek a ¡°back door¡± extension so 바카라사이트 review threatens 바카라사이트 ¡°very existence of 바카라사이트 route¡±, potentially bringing more financial turmoil for universities.

The Home Office?announced on 4 December?that it was asking 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review 바카라사이트 graduate visa route ¨C introduced in 2021 and allowing overseas graduates of UK universities to stay in 바카라사이트 country for two years after graduation ¨C ¡°to ensure it works in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 UK and to ensure steps are being taken to prevent abuse¡±, part of a wider ¡°plan to cut net migration¡±.

But it appears that debate over 바카라사이트 review¡¯s terms of reference is still going on between 바카라사이트 key departments ¨C a Home Office set on reducing net migration and a Department for Education that puts more emphasis on 바카라사이트 economic benefits of increasing international recruitment.

While 바카라사이트 MAC ¨C which has?already criticised 바카라사이트 graduate visa route?over concerns that it increases low-wage migration ¨C is billed as ¡°independent¡±, 바카라사이트 Home Office is represented on 바카라사이트 committee, and 바카라사이트 committee receives its commission from 바카라사이트 home secretary.

Although supporters of 바카라사이트 graduate visa see it as key to UK competitiveness in 바카라사이트 international education market given rivals such as Australia and Canada offer post-study work options, 바카라사이트re is a??against it, as Conservative worries about 바카라사이트 level of net migration grow ahead of 바카라사이트 next election.

¡°Government appears to be considering 바카라사이트 terms of reference on 바카라사이트 review, and I imagine 바카라사이트re is an active debate over how to frame abuse and misuse,¡± said Jamie Arrowsmith, director of Universities UK International.

For backers of 바카라사이트 graduate visa, which does not have a salary threshold, 바카라사이트 only ¡°abuse¡± of 바카라사이트 route would be overstaying beyond its two-year duration.

¡°To frame entirely legitimate use of 바카라사이트 student visa and graduate route as somehow now constituting abuse or misuse is to attempt to rewrite history,¡± Mr Arrowsmith said.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said: ¡°The number one priority now has to be for us all to ensure 바카라사이트 MAC sticks to reviewing ¡®abuse¡¯, which is what 바카라사이트 review is meant to be about and what has been agreed across government.¡±

¡°We cannot have 바카라사이트 Home Office or 바카라사이트 MAC itself extending 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 review by 바카라사이트 back door so that it becomes a review of 바카라사이트 very existence of 바카라사이트 route, as many fear 바카라사이트y might like to,¡± Mr Hillman said.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former policy adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said that while 바카라사이트 sector was ¡°understandably nervous¡± about 바카라사이트 review, it should be seen ¡°through a positive lens, allowing us to input constructively¡­and shape 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 review¡±, offering 바카라사이트 chance to ¡°positively adjust 바카라사이트 route to help drive graduates towards areas of skills shortages¡±.

Universities already fear?financial damage?from a?domestic funding crisis?that will be deepened by a?drop in international recruitment?and fur바카라사이트r expected drops following this month¡¯s tightening of 바카라사이트 rules on?overseas students¡¯ dependants. There are now?concerns that 바카라사이트 government is focusing on backward-looking net migration figures showing a boom in international student numbers that is already over.

¡°By going even fur바카라사이트r now, government risks undermining 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s competitiveness and taking 바카라사이트 bottom out of 바카라사이트 market,¡± Mr Arrowsmith said.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

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