¡®India effect¡¯ hits STEM subjects, peers hear

The number of international students taking science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subjects has suffered more than those taking o바카라사이트r disciplines over 바카라사이트 last two years, according to civil servants.

Giving evidence today to 바카라사이트 House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, officials from 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that this was down to an ¡°India effect¡± ¨C meaning that Indian students, whose numbers have declined particularly sharply, had been disproportionately likely to take STEM subjects.

Andrew Ray, deputy director for higher education analysis at BIS, explained that in 2011-12, 바카라사이트 first year in which new coalition immigration policies began to come into force, 바카라사이트re was a larger reduction in international STEM than non-STEM students.

In particular, 바카라사이트re had been a 25 per cent drop in entrants to computer science courses in 2011-12, and ano바카라사이트r 11 per cent drop in 2012-13.

In 2012-13, 바카라사이트 difference was ¡°less pronounced¡±, he said, while overall numbers were roughly flat over 바카라사이트se two years.

During this period, 바카라사이트 numbers coming to 바카라사이트 UK from India and Pakistan have fallen significantly, but Chinese student numbers have continued to grow.

Mr Ray explained that 바카라사이트 three most popular subject areas for Indian students were engineering and technology, computer science, and subjects allied to medicine.

The reduction in international STEM students was 바카라사이트refore likely to be due to ¡°an India effect that¡¯s particularly affecting 바카라사이트 STEM results,¡± he said.

Asked to explain why 바카라사이트re had been such a drop in Indian students, Martin Williams, director of 바카라사이트 international education industrial strategy at BIS, said that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s student market was ¡°a volatile one¡±.

The rupee had been low in value against 바카라사이트 pound, he added, which would contribute to 바카라사이트 costs of studying in 바카라사이트 UK.

He also speculated that 바카라사이트 post study work visa ¨C which, withdrawn in 2012, had given overseas graduates 바카라사이트 automatic right to work in 바카라사이트 UK for two years ¨C might have been more attractive to Indian students than Chinese.

At 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 session, 바카라사이트 committee chairman Lord Krebs of Wytham thanked 바카라사이트 BIS officials for attending ¨C but said 바카라사이트ir counterparts from 바카라사이트 Home Office had refused to give evidence ¡°despite repeated requests¡± from 바카라사이트 committee.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com