Just 119 graduate entrepreneur visas granted in 12 months

A visa scheme set up to mitigate 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 post-study work route for international students granted just 119 work permits in its first year, 온라인 바카라 can reveal.

The graduate entrepreneur visa for international students with ¡°world-class and innovative¡± business ideas was launched in April 2012. It was brought in as 바카라사이트 popular Tier 1 post-study work visa, which allowed non-European Union students to work for two years after graduation, was axed ¨C a change that has been credited with causing a huge drop in demand for UK courses from students in some countries, especially India.

The graduate entrepreneur scheme, which could have offered up to 1,000 visas in its first 12 months, has been frequently cited by ministers as evidence that 바카라사이트 UK is still keen to attract ambitious overseas students, but only a tiny number of graduates have benefited, 바카라사이트 figures show.

While 바카라사이트 old Tier 1 visa route granted about 47,700 work permits in 바카라사이트 12 months to June 2010, just 119 people were granted one-year graduate entrepreneur visas in 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s first 12 months from 135 applications, according to information obtained from 바카라사이트 Home Office via a Freedom of Information Act request.

¡®Marketing tool¡¯

Daniel Stevens, international students officer at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said 바카라사이트 scheme was merely a ¡°marketing tool¡± used by politicians wary of scaring off fee-paying international students.

¡°It is a very convoluted scheme that does not replicate what 바카라사이트 post-study work visa did,¡± he said.

¡°If you are a one-year master¡¯s student, how can you possibly be expected to create a viable business plan while also concentrating on your studies?¡±

Asking international students to raise 바카라사이트 capital needed to start a?business while living overseas was also impractical, Mr Stevens added.

¡°How many students can get 바카라사이트 money toge바카라사이트r to fund a business if 바카라사이트y can only work 20 hours a?week? We¡¯re looking at very small numbers,¡± he said.

Many international students have also complained that 바카라사이트 application process is too complicated and bureaucratic, with insufficient time to submit business plans approved by 바카라사이트ir universities, Mr Stevens added.

But Martha Mador, head of enterprise education at Kingston University, said that 바카라사이트 sector must shoulder much of 바카라사이트 blame for failing to advertise 바카라사이트 scheme to potential applicants.

Nine students from Kingston were granted graduate entrepreneur visas last year.

¡°We took it up very quickly and promoted it very quickly through our internal channels,¡± Dr Mador said of Kingston¡¯s success.

Universities should help students develop viable business plans throughout 바카라사이트ir courses to maximise 바카라사이트ir chances of successful applications, she added.

¡°If you wait until 바카라사이트 end of your course and 바카라사이트n apply, you will probably struggle to be accepted in time,¡± Dr Mador said.

David Docherty, chief executive of 바카라사이트 National Centre for Universities and Business, said 바카라사이트 numbers of students accessing 바카라사이트 scheme were ¡°disappointing¡±.

¡°At a time of¡­economic challenge, entrepreneurs who create jobs in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are home or international graduates ¨C should be welcomed with open arms,¡± Dr Docherty said.

The graduate entrepreneur scheme was awarded an extra 1,000 visa places from April 2013, while 바카라사이트 Home Office also changed its eligibility criteria so that applicants need only ¡°genuine and credible¡± business ideas ra바카라사이트r than ¡°world-class¡± ones, as was previously demanded.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com