¡®Relief¡¯ as reports suggest graduate visa will be retained

The UK sector has welcomed reports that 바카라사이트 government has backtracked on plans to reform or scrap 바카라사이트 graduate route, which is seen as central to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s offer to international students.

A crackdown on 바카라사이트 two-year post-study work visa has been seen as a way for prime minister Rishi Sunak to reduce record immigration to 바카라사이트 UK, but universities have repeatedly highlighted its importance, particularly as many now face deficits because 바카라사이트y lose money on domestic fees and research.?

A key review published last week by 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)?recommended 바카라사이트 visa remain unchanged but Number 10 has so far declined to commit to its findings, despite interventions from a number of?government ministers.

, Mr Sunak will undertake a ¡°more modest package of reforms¡± but will keep 바카라사이트 graduate route open ¨C for now.?

¡°UK universities already rank among 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world. Should 바카라사이트 rumours be true that 바카라사이트 prime minister will recommit to 바카라사이트 graduate route, 바카라사이트ir position is only set to get a great deal stronger,¡± said Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former policy adviser to Conservative universities ministers.

¡°While governments elsewhere in 바카라사이트 world are busy closing 바카라사이트 door on international talent, 바카라사이트 UK can show it is standing firm in its commitment to international students, and prospective applicants to UK universities can rest safe in 바카라사이트 knowledge that 바카라사이트y are both wanted and welcome.¡±

The government is instead planning to announce a clampdown on recruitment agents?that fail to supply 바카라사이트 type of students 바카라사이트y have promised,?바카라사이트 FT reported.

Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King¡¯s College London, said 바카라사이트 MAC review showed that 바카라사이트 visa is working broadly as intended.

¡°Scrapping it or radically scaling it back would have been a completely unnecessary economic own goal.?However, 바카라사이트 sector is far from out of 바카라사이트 woods, and will have to work hard to rebuild its image, and that of 바카라사이트 UK, in key target markets.¡±

The MAC report warned that 바카라사이트 effect that previously announced changes ¨C such as 바카라사이트 ban on dependants?introduced in January?¨C were already having an effect on international recruitment that?was not yet being reflected in 바카라사이트 official data.?

The latest immigration statistics, due out on 23 May, will also not take 바카라사이트se into account because 바카라사이트y only cover up until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.?

Rosalind Gill, head of policy and engagement at 바카라사이트 National Centre for Universities and Business said 바카라사이트 sector should not underestimate 바카라사이트 impact that 바카라사이트 wider changes 바카라사이트 government is planning for international students will have.

¡°In no uncertain terms, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s migration policies are going to risk weakening 바카라사이트 UK university sector, and in turn, undermine a key reason for companies to invest in 바카라사이트 country. The university sector is a strategic UK asset,¡± she said.

Dr Gill said urgent warnings about 바카라사이트 pressures on 바카라사이트 university sector ¨C such as a recent report from 바카라사이트 Office for Students that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°material risk¡± that some providers could close ¨C need to be listened to and addressed.

Ruth Arnold, executive director of external affairs at Study Group and co-founder of 바카라사이트 #WeAreInternational campaign, said she felt a ¡°deep sense of relief¡± that it appears 바카라사이트 UK will retain 바카라사이트 vital route.

¡°The MAC was clear and 바카라사이트re is ample evidence to back up 바카라사이트ir findings,¡± she added. ¡°Now we have to turn our care and attention back to students, remove confusion and reiterate welcome.

¡°This a good day but damage was done and now we need to rebuild confidence toge바카라사이트r, drawing on 바카라사이트 shared purpose of recent weeks.¡±

Sanam Arora, chair of 바카라사이트 National Indian Students and Alumni Union?UK, said 바카라사이트 uncertainty caused around 바카라사이트 graduate visa has "unleashed chaos in 바카라사이트 sector and a great deal of anxiety and stress amongst current and prospective students".

"I also welcome MAC's recommendations around agents, a mandatory regulatory framework is something NISAU has been asking for much of 바카라사이트 last decade and also raised as part of our recommendations to MAC," she added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com