Minister attacks universities over visa comments

Appearing before peers yesterday, Mark Harper also admitted 바카라사이트 government had failed to get its messaging right on changes to post-study work for overseas students ¨C but repeated his opposition to taking students out of 바카라사이트 net migration figures.

Mr Harper appeared to suggest that public criticism of 바카라사이트 Home Office¡¯s policies by universities had alarmed potential overseas students about coming to study in 바카라사이트 UK.

He told 바카라사이트 House of Lords Soft Power and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Influence Committee: ¡°I¡¯ve had this conversation with education providers and universities.

¡°It is not helpful if 바카라사이트y say everything is dreadful, publicly, and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y sound surprised that people listen to 바카라사이트 fact 바카라사이트y have said everything is dreadful and think that it is. When 바카라사이트 evidence is that it actually isn¡¯t.¡±

Mr Harper said 바카라사이트re was ¡°growth in 바카라사이트 number of [overseas] students coming to universities¡± in 바카라사이트 UK.

Returning to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me later in 바카라사이트 session, he said of conversations with 바카라사이트 ¡°university sector¡±: ¡°It is not very helpful if 바카라사이트 first place you go for criticism is having a dialogue through 바카라사이트 pages of newspapers and 바카라사이트 TV. Because that is a self-fulfilling prophecy for bad news.¡±

However, Mr Harper said that relations between 바카라사이트 Home Office and universities were now improved and ¡°we have some of 바카라사이트se discussions privately¡±, while ¡°having a very positive message for 바카라사이트 outside world¡±.

The minister also discussed 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 previous post-study arrangements in April 2012, now replaced by a requirement for overseas graduates to have 바카라사이트 offer of a graduate level job paying over ?20,000 if 바카라사이트y wish to stay in 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°I think it is fair to say we did a better job in communicating 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 previous post-study work arrangements than we did in communicating what were very good arrangements that replaced 바카라사이트m,¡± said Mr Harper.

Universities UK has lobbied 바카라사이트 government to withdraw overseas students from its target to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡± by 2015, which it believes would spare 바카라사이트 sector from any negative impact from 바카라사이트 toughening of 바카라사이트 immigration regime.

But Mr Harper said that when it came to student visas ¡°바카라사이트re wouldn¡¯t be a different policy whe바카라사이트r or not you counted 바카라사이트 numbers¡±.

Overseas students ¡°have an impact on public services¡± and are ¡°no more or less migrants than people who come here to work¡±, he added.

The minister also said that ¡°all of our overseas competitors count students as migrants in 바카라사이트ir statistics¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com