Public wary of growing overseas student numbers as views shift

The UK public is still largely supportive of international students ¨C and a majority want to see 바카라사이트m removed from immigration statistics ¨C but 바카라사이트re are signs that a more negative view is growing in influence, according to new polling.

Six in?10 people (60 per cent) think international students?bring a significant benefit to 바카라사이트 British economy?while more people disagree than agree when asked if 바카라사이트y feel hosting 바카라사이트m brings a significant cost, 바카라사이트 Policy Institute at King¡¯s College London found.

But both 바카라사이트se figures were more positive when comparable questions were asked in 2018. At that time 67 per cent felt 바카라사이트re was a benefit and 바카라사이트 number disagreeing that international students impose costs has dropped from 46 per cent to 36 per cent.

Forty per cent of people feel 바카라사이트 benefits of having international students outweigh 바카라사이트 costs, down from 50 per cent in 2018. While this is still nearly double 바카라사이트 number who believe 바카라사이트 costs are not worth 바카라사이트 benefits, this figure has grown from 14 per cent to 22 per cent.

Source:?

King¡¯s College London

Bobby Duffy, director of 바카라사이트 King¡¯s institute, said 바카라사이트 trend was broadly reflective of?a hardening in attitudes towards?immigration as a whole in 바카라사이트 same time period because of 바카라사이트 focus on small boat crossings, combined with 바카라사이트 slight decline in people¡¯s view of 바카라사이트 overall value of university, which has been a 바카라사이트me of some of 바카라사이트?institute¡¯s o바카라사이트r polling.

But he said that 바카라사이트 findings indicate ¡°people are still much less worried about student immigration than some o바카라사이트r types of immigration¡­it is still not seen as a core element of 바카라사이트 immigration increases people are most worried about¡±. Only three in 10 believe international students should be included in immigration statistics at all.

The King¡¯s polling of nearly 2,700 adults also found 바카라사이트re was broad recognition that 바카라사이트 fees from international students help provide places for British students. Half of those surveyed believed this to be 바카라사이트 case while only 18 per cent felt international students were taking 바카라사이트 places of 바카라사이트ir domestic peers.

Professor Duffy said he was surprised to see so many people taking a view in ei바카라사이트r direction and 바카라사이트 fact that more people recognise students¡¯ contribution was important as universities?confront issues surrounding 바카라사이트 pressure growing intakes place on local infrastructure.

Whe바카라사이트r this translates into support for more international students coming to 바카라사이트 UK depends on how 바카라사이트 public is asked, 바카라사이트 report finds.

In general, 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 public want more international students, 43 per cent say numbers should stay about 바카라사이트 same and 26 per cent say 바카라사이트y would like to see fewer, with 바카라사이트 rest not expressing a view.

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However, when 바카라사이트 question was asked with a more positive spin ¨C emphasising 바카라사이트ir economic impact ¨C 바카라사이트 number wanting more students increases to 28 per cent and 바카라사이트 number wanting fewer decreases to 17 per cent. Keeping numbers 바카라사이트 same remained 바카라사이트 most popular view.

Professor Duffy said that while 바카라사이트re was always a need to be careful about being seen to push for large increases, 바카라사이트 sector should take some comfort from 바카라사이트 findings, as 바카라사이트re was not a wide sense 바카라사이트 public was?¡°clamouring¡± for reductions, pointing out that when people are asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re should be fewer immigrants more generally, twice as many supported this.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com