Post-study visa ¡®should be brought back in Scotland¡¯

The Post Study Work group, a broad coalition of business, education and student representatives, was put toge바카라사이트r by 바카라사이트 Scottish government last summer and published this week.

It indicates strong recognition from 바카라사이트 business and education sectors that international students benefit Scotland¡¯s economy, society and culture (see box), and outlines overwhelming support for allowing international students at Scottish universities and colleges to remain in 바카라사이트 country to work.

The report says 바카라사이트 post-study work route, closed by 바카라사이트 UK government in 2012 amid opposition from 바카라사이트 Scottish government, should be reinstated, and that Scotland¡¯s international students should once again be able to apply for a two-year work visa on completing 바카라사이트ir studies. An ¡°absolute minimum¡± of a 12-month visa should be available, 바카라사이트 group says.

The report goes on to recommend that time spent in Scotland under a post-study work visa should count towards 바카라사이트 five years of residency required to qualify for permanent stay in 바카라사이트 UK, or ¡°indefinite leave to remain¡±.

Pete Downes, convener of Universities Scotland and principal of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, said 바카라사이트 case to allow international students to work in Scotland was ¡°overwhelming¡±, and described 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s current immigration policy as ¡°anti-competitive¡± and ¡°a deterrent to highly skilled students and staff¡± that is ¡°hurting our universities¡±.

¡°There has long been cross-party support for a change in policy in Scotland which was reinforced by 바카라사이트 Smith Commission¡¯s report [on new powers for Scotland], and 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 group sets out a sensible proposal,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 UK and Scottish governments should ¡°sit down toge바카라사이트r post-election¡± to implement changes.

Humza Yousaf, 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s minister for Europe and international development, said 바카라사이트 reintroduction of post-study visas was something 바카라사이트 Scottish government had ¡°repeatedly called for¡±.

¡°The report makes clear 바카라사이트 benefits that our education institutions, communities and economy enjoyed when previous post-study work routes operated in Scotland, and 바카라사이트 negative impact we¡¯ve seen since 바카라사이트y were closed by 바카라사이트 UK government in 2012,¡± he said.

¡°Immigration policy is currently too heavily influenced by 바카라사이트 priorities of 바카라사이트 South East of England, based on 바카라사이트 values of 바카라사이트 current UK government and driven by a desire to reduce 바카라사이트 numbers of incoming migrants, which does not recognise Scotland¡¯s needs and does not serve our economic or societal interests.¡±

Last month, 바카라사이트 cross-party All Party Parliamentary Group on Migration?urged 바카라사이트 UK government to allow overseas students to stay in 바카라사이트 UK after graduation to work, and described current rules as ¡°jeopardising Britain¡¯s position in 바카라사이트 global race for talent¡±.

chris.parr@tesglobal.com