Report criticises proposed changes to student visa system

The analysis from 바카라사이트 Institute for Public Policy Research, published today, says 바카라사이트re is ¡°a risk that 바카라사이트 proposed changes will impose substantial (and very real) costs on 바카라사이트 education sector and wider economy simply to deliver reductions in migration statistics.¡±

The remarks refer to plans to restrict Tier 4 student visas, which universities fear will result in a drastic decline in 바카라사이트 number of students coming to 바카라사이트 UK.

The government insisted that 바카라사이트 clampdown was not aimed at higher education, but universities said 바카라사이트y feared that even if it was focused on courses below degree level it could impact on 바카라사이트 flow of students from preparatory courses.

Today¡¯s report, Student Migration in 바카라사이트 UK, highlights discrepancies between immigration figures cited by 바카라사이트 government and o바카라사이트r data sources, which it claims are more accurate. According to 바카라사이트 IPPR, ¡°arrivals data suggest that international student immigration numbers have been more-or-less stable for at least a decade¡±.

This is at odds with 바카라사이트 claim in 바카라사이트 government consultation document that 바카라사이트 number of students admitted had increased by 70 per cent in 10 years.

The report says that this claim stems from a calculation that includes ¡°student visitors¡± ¨C which was introduced as a new immigration category in 2007 ¨C in 바카라사이트 figures for 2009.

¡°The 1999 data is 바카라사이트refore not comparable with 바카라사이트 2009 statistic used in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s consultation document,¡± concludes 바카라사이트 report, which was commissioned by Universities UK. ¡°Once student visitors are excluded, arrivals data show that student admissions in 2009 were about 바카라사이트 same as in 1999.¡±

The report also says that cutting 바카라사이트 number of international students by half would only reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 UK by 40,000.

Noting 바카라사이트 government¡¯s aim of reducing total net migration ¡°from 바카라사이트 hundreds of thousands to 바카라사이트 tens of thousands¡±, 바카라사이트 authors say 바카라사이트 political debate around migration has come ¡°to focus more on esoteric questions of statistics and principle than on real migration flows or 바카라사이트ir real impacts¡±.

The report is 바카라사이트 second in a week to oppose 바카라사이트 government¡¯s visa plans.

A study published last week by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and written by Edward Acton, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, accuses elements of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s visa controls of having ¡°an ugly taste of apar바카라사이트id¡± about 바카라사이트m.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com