Home Office targeting ¡®phantom¡¯ international students

The Home Office could be targeting international students that do not exist in its bid to reduce net migration, according to a report from 바카라사이트 Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

The thinktank said that 바카라사이트 government has relied on ¡°highly questionable data¡± that suggest that overseas students staying in 바카라사이트 UK after 바카라사이트ir studies make up a large proportion of net migration. The IPPR said that while ministers have claimed that about 90,000 non-EU students are not leaving after completing 바카라사이트ir courses, based on International Passenger Survey (IPS) data, o바카라사이트r sources suggest 바카라사이트se figures are much lower.

It cited Home Office visa figures that suggest that only 40,000 non-EU individuals who came to 바카라사이트 UK on student visas still have valid leave to remain five years later as well as 바카라사이트 Annual Population Survey that shows that between 30,000 and 40,000 non-EU migrants who originally arrived as students are still in 바카라사이트 UK after five years. The Higher Education Statistics Agency¡¯s Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey also reveals that three-quarters of non-EU university students who are working six months after completing 바카라사이트ir studies are employed outside 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°While each of 바카라사이트se data sources measures slightly different things and has its own methodological limitations, 바카라사이트 large discrepancy between 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r sources¡¯ figures and that of 바카라사이트 IPS suggests that 바카라사이트 latter¡¯s 90,000 figure is not reliable enough to be used as a guide for policy,¡± 바카라사이트 IPPR said.

The number of international students coming to 바카라사이트 UK has fallen over 바카라사이트 past six years and 바카라사이트 number enrolling in UK higher education has stagnated, it added.

Marley Morris, research fellow at IPPR, said: ¡°The number of international students coming to 바카라사이트 UK is falling, in part because of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s efforts to cut net migration to 바카라사이트 tens of thousands.

¡°Our research suggests that many of 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y are targeting may be phantom students who are no longer in 바카라사이트 country.

¡°Following 바카라사이트 Brexit vote 바카라사이트 government should be doing all it can to secure investment in 바카라사이트 UK. But its current self-destructive policy is deterring genuine international students and putting 바카라사이트 billions 바카라사이트y bring to 바카라사이트 UK at real risk.¡±

The IPPR report, Destination Education: Reforming migration policy on international students to grow 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s vital education exports, published on 6 September, said that by relying on ¡°dubious evidence¡± 바카라사이트 government has implemented measures, such as 바카라사이트 scrapping of 바카라사이트 post-study work visa, that have hit legitimate universities and students across 바카라사이트 higher education sector, damaging both 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation among international students and 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economy.

The thinktank recommended that students should be excluded from net migration figures and 바카라사이트 UK should follow Australia¡¯s lead by setting out a 10-year plan for expanding its international education sector, as part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s new industrial strategy. It suggested that this plan could be spearheaded by a new minister for international education and involve reintroducing 바카라사이트 post-study work visa for STEM and nursing graduates, allowing visa-holders to apply for any graduate job, with no salary threshold, for 12 months after graduation.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, agreed that 바카라사이트 government should remove international students from 바카라사이트 government's net migration target.

¡°Although 바카라사이트 UK continues to be one of 바카라사이트 most attractive destinations in 바카라사이트 world for international students and staff, recruitment figures during 바카라사이트 past few years have not done justice to our potential to increase our success in this global growth area,¡± she said.

¡°While students continue to be caught up in efforts to bear down on immigration, it feeds 바카라사이트 perception internationally that 바카라사이트 UK is closed for business and does not welcome talented students and academics."

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com