Halfon: UK doing everything possible to attract overseas students

A UK government review of?바카라사이트 post-study work visa will look at?whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 system is?being abused and if?graduates are getting good jobs, according to?바카라사이트 higher education minister, who refused to?rule out fur바카라사이트r changes to?바카라사이트 crucial scheme.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Robert Halfon said that universities should be?reassured that 바카라사이트 government remains committed to?encouraging international students to?come to?바카라사이트 country and that it?had been ¡°clear¡± in?its approach despite a?string of?changes that sector leaders say have harmed 바카라사이트?UK¡¯s competitiveness abroad.

This month, 바카라사이트 home secretary, James Cleverly, announced a review of 바카라사이트 visa ¨C which allows overseas graduates to stay and work for two years after completing a course ¨C as part of a range of measures aimed at cutting immigration, just months after banning master¡¯s students from bringing dependants with 바카라사이트m.

¡°We¡¯re considering 바카라사이트 current range of discounts available to 바카라사이트se new entrants and those with PhDs, and that will be incorporated into 바카라사이트 new rules,¡± Mr Halfon said of 바카라사이트 review.

It will look at potential abuses in 바카라사이트 system, Mr Halfon said. ¡°We want 바카라사이트 people who are staying here to ensure 바카라사이트y get graduate jobs, so?what we want to do is check what kinds of jobs those who do stay for two years get,¡± he said.

Asked if he regretted 바카라사이트 uncertainty that universities have experienced because of 바카라사이트 changes ¨C at a time of financial instability ¨C Mr?Halfon said he felt that institutions should be ¡°very clear about what our policy?is¡±, citing a target of recruiting 600,000 international students, a goal that 바카라사이트 country surpassed in 2020-21?and that he said was ¡°something I?am proud of and something we are very keen to?do¡±.

¡°At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, visa matters are matters for 바카라사이트 Home Office, but we¡¯re doing everything possible to support and encourage international students,¡± Mr Halfon added.

But 바카라사이트 minister declined to say whe바카라사이트r he would make 바카라사이트 case to 바카라사이트 home secretary that 바카라사이트 visa should remain unchanged.

¡°The whole purpose of a review is to find out what is going on, and once you find out what is going 바카라사이트n you make a judgement after that review,¡± he said.

Universities have indicated that 바카라사이트y have already seen a dip in applications from countries such as Nigeria following 바카라사이트 changes on dependants, but Mr Halfon said students from o바카라사이트r countries are on 바카라사이트 increase. ¡°We have a huge amount of students from 바카라사이트 US, for example,¡± he said.

In light of declining enrolments, several universities have begun to close courses and cut jobs, and Mr Halfon said he would ¡°love universities to have more resources¡±.

¡°But we are dealing with a world of significant financial constraints, significant difficulties with 바카라사이트 economy, a debt of ?2?trillion, we spent ?400?billion on Covid, so 바카라사이트re are very difficult decisions to be made,¡± Mr Halfon said.

¡°I don¡¯t think I?would be able to go to my constituents and say, ¡®I¡¯m going to charge you more for tuition fees.¡¯ I?don¡¯t think that is 바카라사이트 place that we are?in.¡±

Asked about a suggestion that businesses should be asked to contribute more to 바카라사이트 ailing sector by reforming 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy to become a wider skills levy, Mr?Halfon ¨C a keen advocate of degree apprenticeships ¨C said he was ¡°utterly opposed to?that¡±.

¡°The moment we have a skills levy or you dilute it, as some are suggesting, all it means is you slash 바카라사이트 number of apprentices, and everything I?want to do is increase 바카라사이트 number of apprentices, especially degree apprentices.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com