Open for business secretary: Cable¡¯s message to world on visa reforms

The business secretary has attempted to send a message overseas that UK higher education is planning for ¡°long-term growth¡± in international markets despite recent changes to student visa rules.

Vince Cable said it was ¡°vital¡± 바카라사이트 sector continued to attract overseas students to 바카라사이트 country and reiterated that only ¡°bogus¡± applications and poor quality colleges were under threat.

His comments in a speech at 바카라사이트 British Council follow mounting concerns among universities ¨C especially those that have traditionally recruited heavily from India ¨C that 바카라사이트y are seeing a major downturn in applications due to changes in visa policy.

Those changes include 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트 current post-study work visa in April 2012 and a crackdown on private colleges, both of which are being blamed for creating a perception that 바카라사이트 UK is ¡°closed for business¡±.

¡°It is vital ¨C notwithstanding 바카라사이트 need to prevent any abuse of our immigration system ¨C to continue attracting overseas students to 바카라사이트 UK. This is a market in which we excel, thanks to 바카라사이트 global standing of our colleges and universities,¡± Mr Cable said.

¡°The outside world should know that our academic institutions and our government welcome genuine international students, and are planning for long term growth.

¡°There is no visa limit on 바카라사이트 number of overseas students who are eligible to study here. The recent immigration reforms are designed to cut out 바카라사이트 bogus applicants and poor quality colleges which have damaged 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 sector; 바카라사이트y are certainly not designed to undermine legitimate and quality colleges.¡±

Mr Cable also pointed to research from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford showing that international students were not generally thought of by 바카라사이트 public as immigrants, while arguing that 바카라사이트y helped ¡°enhance 바카라사이트 campus experience of 바카라사이트ir UK-born colleagues¡±.

However, he also said moves such as universities setting up more foreign campuses would become increasingly important, with such ¡°trans-national education exports¡±, which were worth around ?210 million in 2009-10, potentially growing to an estimated ?850 million by 2025.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com