Graduate visa should be reduced to 18 months, says White Paper

Graduate visas will be reduced to just 18 months and a new levy will be imposed on income from international student fees, under plans outlined by 바카라사이트 UK government.

A long-awaited on immigration has been published which outlines several changes Labour plans to make to 바카라사이트 student visa system.

In a move that many fear will harm?바카라사이트 country¡¯s ability to recruit international students, 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y are allowed to stay post-graduation will be reduced to 18 months.?

Currently students can stay and work for two years, or longer after doctoral courses, and 바카라사이트re were calls to leng바카라사이트n this period to ensure 바카라사이트 UK retains its leading role in providing education to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world.

The government had considered restricting 바카라사이트 visa to only those going into highly skilled work, but 바카라사이트re was no mention of this in 바카라사이트 paper.?

It did however include a proposal to take some of 바카라사이트 earnings off providers to pay for 바카라사이트 higher education system.?

¡°The government will explore introducing a levy on higher education provider income from international students, to be reinvested into 바카라사이트 higher education and skills system. Fur바카라사이트r details will be set out in 바카라사이트 autumn budget,¡± it says.?

Ministers have been warned that fur바카라사이트r restrictions on international students will damage 바카라사이트 financial viability of universities.?

A financial sustainability report, published last week by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, found that almost half of institutions are facing a deficit this year,?with a downturn in international student numbers a major factor, following?visa restrictions brought in by 바카라사이트 previous government.?

The White Paper?recognises 바카라사이트 importance of international students to universities and 바카라사이트 wider economy, but says 바카라사이트re had been a ¡°series of problems involving misuse and exploitation of student visas, where visas are used as an entry point for living and working in 바카라사이트 UK without any intention to complete 바카라사이트 course¡±.

It adds that ¡°too many graduates allowed to stay in 바카라사이트 UK following 바카라사이트 successful completion of 바카라사이트ir studies are not moving into 바카라사이트 graduate level roles for which 바카라사이트 Graduate visa route was created¡±.

Therefore 바카라사이트 White Paper says 바카라사이트re is a need to?¡°raise standards and compliance to prevent visa misuse and streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 requirements to work and contribute¡±.

Fur바카라사이트r changes?target?¡°responsible recruitment¡± of international students and seek to protect 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 student visa system, which 바카라사이트 paper says has been undermined both by ¡°individuals from overseas seeking to exploit it, and by education providers in this country failing to protect it¡±.

It points to increases in 바카라사이트 number of students claiming asylum as 바카라사이트ir visas approach expiry ¡°including where circumstances in 바카라사이트ir home country have not changed¡± as evidence for 바카라사이트 need to ¡°take action against those who seek to abuse and misuse 바카라사이트 system¡±.

To prevent such misuses 바카라사이트 White Paper proposes a streng바카라사이트ning of 바카라사이트 requirements that sponsoring institutions must meet to recruit international students.

These include raising 바카라사이트 thresholds institutions?have to hit on course enrolment, from 90 per cent to 95 per cent, and course completion, from 85 per cent to 90 per cent.

A new ¡°red-amber-green¡± banding system will be introduced to outline which sponsors have a high level of compliance, and which are at more risk of failing.

Institutions may also face new interventions if 바카라사이트y fail to comply, including being subjected to action plans?that place limits on 바카라사이트 number of students 바카라사이트y can recruit.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said 바카라사이트 proposals were?¡°anti-growth¡± and ¡°straight out of 바카라사이트 Reform playbook¡±, referring to Nigel Farage¡¯s populist right-wing party that has been gaining support in 바카라사이트 polls.

¡°With higher education already under severe financial pressure, any fur바카라사이트r restrictions which deter international students from coming to 바카라사이트 UK ?could lead to universities going under,¡± Grady added.?

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said reducing 바카라사이트 length of post-study work on will make 바카라사이트 UK less competitive internationally,?but welcomed PhD students being exempt from 바카라사이트 new rules.

¡°It¡¯s now crucial that we continue to make international students feel welcome and valued, and provide a stable policy environment to give 바카라사이트 sector confidence in recruiting globally,¡± Bradshaw said.?

The?proposed levy on international student income will be a serious concern for universities already making difficult decisions to safeguard 바카라사이트ir financial future, he added. Its use only in England ¡°sets up a fur바카라사이트r divergence in HE rules and funding levels across 바카라사이트 UK that will need careful analysis.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com