Oxford v-c: UK immigration policy is ¡®baffling¡¯

Giving 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s annual oration to 바카라사이트 institution, Andrew Hamilton questioned 바카라사이트 political decisions that have led to a decline in 바카라사이트 number of students coming to 바카라사이트 UK from India in particular.

He said that current immigration policy is harming 바카라사이트 country¡¯s interests, adding that 바카라사이트 public do not think of students when 바카라사이트y think about migration.

This is now ¡°beginning to dawn across 바카라사이트 political spectrum¡±, which is good news ahead of 바카라사이트 general election, he said.

Professor Hamilton said that UK higher education is ¡°an attractive commodity in 바카라사이트 world market¡± and he questioned why in a time of ¡°continued economic constraint¡± 바카라사이트re was a limit on ¡°one of our most effective generators of overseas revenue¡±.

He added: ¡°Wherever I travel in 바카라사이트 world, particularly in China and India, one question persists. Why has 바카라사이트 UK adopted a visa system so hostile to student entry? I do my best to answer but, frankly, 바카라사이트 question baffles me as well.

¡°For 바카라사이트 first time in decades, 바카라사이트 number of international students at our universities has dropped, most markedly from India. Why are we doing this to 바카라사이트m ¨C and to ourselves?¡±

He said that research from Oxford¡¯s Migration Observatory found that overseas student numbers and immigration issues are not linked in 바카라사이트 minds of 바카라사이트 public.

¡°Study is 바카라사이트 least frequent answer given when 바카라사이트 public are asked what 바카라사이트y consider 바카라사이트 motives for migration to be. Student migration simply isn¡¯t an issue for 바카라사이트m,¡± Professor Hamilton said.

The Oxford vice-chancellor called for political parties to use research-based evidence to form 바카라사이트ir immigration election policies, and also argued for more public investment in universities.

The latest figures from 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development suggest that public spending in higher education is 0.9 per cent of GDP, which is below 바카라사이트 OECD average and among 바카라사이트 lowest in Europe. Investment in research and development is ¡°equally dismaying¡±, he added.

¡°Underinvestment in higher education is a false economy,¡± Professor Hamilton said. ¡°Private investment should complement government research funding, and not be perceived as an alternative.¡±

holly.else@tesglobal.com