Independent Scotland would 'attract international students'

Addressing 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Humza Yousaf, 바카라사이트 SNP minister for external affairs and international development, warned that 바카라사이트 UK immigration system makes it ¡°increasingly difficult for international students to come to Scotland and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK to study¡±.?

Mr Yousaf said that following 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s closure of 바카라사이트 post-study work visa route, which granted non-EU students two years residence in 바카라사이트 UK to seek employment after graduating from university, ¡°바카라사이트 number of non-European Union enrolments ¨C 바카라사이트 figure taken into account for all years of study ¨C was 0.7 per cent lower than it was 바카라사이트 previous year¡± in Scotland.

He went on to say that 바카라사이트 number of first year students from India, Pakistan and Nigeria entering Scottish higher education institutions has decreased by 58 per cent, 38 per cent and 22 per cent respectively since April 2012.

The post-study work visa route was closed in 2012, a result of 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ pledge to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡± by 2015.?

Edward Acton, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia who led Universities UK¡¯s lobbying on student visas, told 온라인 바카라 in 2012 that Theresa May, 바카라사이트 home secretary, ¡°is continuing to cast a dark cloud over British higher education, and continuing to counteract and undermine government policy in this area ¨C which is to nurture and increase 바카라사이트 flow of (legitimate) non-EU students to British universities.¡±

He also likened Ms May to a Dalek.

Mr Yousaf promised to depart from 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s immigration policy if Scotland were to become independent.

He said that an independent Scotland would be ¡°taking responsibility for¡­[its] own immigration system¡± and promised 바카라사이트 ¡°reintroduction of 바카라사이트 post-study work visa¡±, which would? ¡°help attract international students to [Scotland¡¯s] universities and colleges to deliver 바카라사이트 economic prosperity that could be achieved with independence¡±.