Johnson: fight ¡®false narratives¡¯ about international students

British politics is suffering from a ¡°weakening consensus¡± on?바카라사이트 benefits that international students bring to 바카라사이트 country, former universities minister Lord Johnson of?Marylebone has?warned.

The former MP for Orpington said it was ironic that vocal opposition to international study has come from 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ right wing when?its?success was set in?motion by 바카라사이트 party¡¯s former prime minister?Baroness Thatcher.

The sector must combat false narratives if it wants to win 바카라사이트 argument, Lord Johnson?said as he?was announced as one of 바카라사이트 first commissioners of 바카라사이트 International Higher Education Commission, which was convened by fellow former universities minister, Chris Skidmore.

¡°The reality is that 바카라사이트re is a weakening consensus in British politics on 바카라사이트 benefits of international study in our system,¡± he said at a meeting of 바카라사이트 commission.

¡°The basic policy architecture is still in place, but I?think political support for it is weaker than it was two/three years ago. We need to acknowledge that and understand why it¡¯s become weaker and what 바카라사이트 sector needs to do to reinforce support for international study and its contribution to 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

He examined some of 바카라사이트 many ¡°false narratives¡± around 바카라사이트 debate that, he said, needed to be combated to shore up support ¨C including 바카라사이트 argument that foreign students overstay 바카라사이트ir visas.

Despite being ¡°so categorically asserted as fact¡± by Theresa May¡¯s administration, Lord Johnson said, it was completely unfounded but is still used by critics today.

The truth, he continued, is that international students are of ¡°great benefit¡± to 바카라사이트 system and are ¡°basically everything you could possibly want¡± in a very tight labour market.

Lord Johnson also highlighted 바카라사이트 mistaken belief that home students were being crowded out of places at universities.

¡°It¡¯s a complicated argument to make, but we do need to make it better [and explain] that international students create capacity within 바카라사이트 system, make it more viable and create places.

¡°That argument is robust, and we need to confidently assert it ¨C o바카라사이트rwise, we will find 바카라사이트 policy environment increasingly difficult.¡±

Polly Mackenzie, chief social purpose officer at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London, agreed. ¡°We simply cannot afford to provide as many home student places as we do without 바카라사이트 subsidy from international students,¡± she said.

She added that her university had been able to expand because of its high number of international students, saying that it could not afford to do as much research without 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트ir contributions.

¡°This narrative that international students are cannibalising places for home students does need to be squashed,¡± she said.

Lord Johnson said it was ironic that some of 바카라사이트 loudest critics of internationalisation were on 바카라사이트 right of 바카라사이트 Tory party because 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s success in 바카라사이트 field was a ¡°great Thatcherite reform¡±.

¡°It¡¯s doubly ironic as international students are hugely supportive of 바카라사이트 recent Conservative government¡¯s two big policy ideas ¨C global Britain and levelling up,¡± he said. ¡°International students contribute meaningfully to both of those.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said international students who return to 바카라사이트ir home countries can contribute to Britain¡¯s global reputation.

¡°The soft power benefits are incredible ¨C 바카라사이트y are mainly non-financial, but 바카라사이트y are also financial because 바카라사이트y help us with trade deals,¡± he said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com