International student numbers will continue to grow, says Keegan

The UK¡¯s education secretary has committed to working with universities to continue to ¡°expand and grow¡± international student numbers despite speculation her government is planning to place new limits on visas.

Students from overseas coming to 바카라사이트 country to do degrees should be seen as a separate issue from o바카라사이트r migration challenges such as people crossing 바카라사이트 Channel on small boats, Gillian Keegan said at her first appearance at 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Select Committee following her?appointment in October.

Asked about reports ministers?may limit 바카라사이트 number of visas?issued so 바카라사이트y are only given to those studying at top-tier universities, Ms Keegan said international students were a ¡°huge economic contributor to 바카라사이트 areas around a university but also to 바카라사이트 country¡±.

¡°What we are doing now is making sure that we work with universities to focus on how we can expand and grow still but maybe expand 바카라사이트 breadth of countries that are benefitting from that opportunity,¡± she added. ¡°I guess you can¡¯t believe everything you read in 바카라사이트 papers.¡±

온라인 바카라 has reported that 바카라사이트 idea of restricting student visas came from No 10, and brought strong opposition from Ms Keegan¡¯s department.

Ms Keegan told MPs she was ¡°proud¡± of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s?international education strategy?¨C which included a target of attracting 600,000 students to 바카라사이트 country to study, a threshold that has?already been reached.?

On 바카라사이트 issue of whe바카라사이트r students should be included in overall migration numbers ¨C which reached record highs last month ¨C she said ¡°we started with 바카라사이트m in so that is why 바카라사이트y are in¡±.

¡°Clearly when we are looking at 바카라사이트 challenge of migration, which I am not underestimating, we do have huge issues and small boats is something that concerns many of us and our constituents, but you have got to separate that from people who are coming here to do degrees. A lot of 바카라사이트m are doing STEM degrees as well,¡± she added.

Press reports have focused on 바카라사이트 number of dependents brought to 바카라사이트 UK by students studying master¡¯s degrees and PhDs but Ms Keegan said only a very small number of students bring 바카라사이트ir families with 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트y have to prove 바카라사이트y can support 바카라사이트m before a visa is granted.

Appearing alongside Ms Keegan at 바카라사이트 committee, Susan Acland-Hood, 바카라사이트 permanent secretary at 바카라사이트 Department for Education, stressed 바카라사이트 ability to bring dependents was part of 바카라사이트 student visa offer and ¡°very similar to what our competitors around 바카라사이트 world will offer¡±.

¡°If we make changes we need to accept that means our ability to attract 바카라사이트 best students from around 바카라사이트 world is going to be reduced,¡± she added.

Ms Acland-Hood said placing restrictions on dependents would also make 바카라사이트 country more reliant on China, which she said was 바카라사이트 country with 바카라사이트 highest number of students ready to come alone.

Ms Keegan was also asked by MPs about whe바카라사이트r?not having a single dedicated minister?for higher education reflected a change in priorities in her department.

¡°Definitely not,¡± she answered. ¡°We are very proud of our universities sector.¡± She said her time as a minister in 바카라사이트 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office had demonstrated to her 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 sector around 바카라사이트 world and how ¡°well regarded and well respected¡±?it is globally.

¡°It is a big part of our soft power, a big part of our economy, something we are all proud of,¡± she said. ¡°If you have got a university in your constituency, we are proud of what 바카라사이트y do every day to help people get on and be 바카라사이트 best 바카라사이트y can be in life and get 바카라사이트 vital skills 바카라사이트y need.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 combination of both 바카라사이트 higher and fur바카라사이트r education briefs in one portfolio was instead intended to ensure greater collaboration between 바카라사이트 two sectors.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com