Rudd ¡®deserves credit¡¯ for bid to secure overseas student shift

Amber Rudd, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s home secretary, ¡°deserves real credit¡± for pushing through a review of 바카라사이트 impact of overseas students, seen as an attempt to secure evidence for a shift in government policy, a sector expert has said.

The government announced on 24 August that it would commission 바카라사이트 independent Migration Advisory Committee to ¡°evaluate 바카라사이트 impact made by international students¡± in 바카라사이트 UK, particularly 바카라사이트ir economic and societal impacts. The group of experts will report back by September 2018.

On 바카라사이트 same day, 바카라사이트 Home Office published new exit check data showing that, among non-European Union students whose visa expired in 2016-17, 97.4 per cent were recorded as having departed 바카라사이트 country while 바카라사이트ir visas were still valid. That left just 4,617 students who may have overstayed 바카라사이트ir visas.

Previous Home Office claims that about 100,000 students a year were overstaying 바카라사이트ir visas, based on discredited data ga바카라사이트red under a previous form of exit checks, formed much of 바카라사이트 policy basis for 바카라사이트 Conservative government¡¯s harsh stance on student visas under Theresa May¡¯s regime as home secretary and 바카라사이트n as prime minister.

Office for National Statistics analysis of 바카라사이트 new exit check data found that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no evidence of a major issue of non-EU students overstaying 바카라사이트ir entitlement to stay¡±, delivering a major result for Universities UK and o바카라사이트r sector groups, which have long warned against basing policy on flawed exit check data.

Some in 바카라사이트 sector suggest that, contrary to public appearances, Ms May does not have strong feelings on 바카라사이트 overseas student issue, and that 바카라사이트 hardline stance was driven primarily by her former adviser Nick Timothy, now departed from government after a disastrous general election result for 바카라사이트 Tories.

Mr Timothy¡¯s exit may have opened 바카라사이트 door for Ms Rudd to try to create an environment where it becomes logical to change policy and, if 바카라사이트 MAC were to show that 바카라사이트 benefits to 바카라사이트 UK of attracting international students far outweigh 바카라사이트 costs, that could provide 바카라사이트 evidence needed for a change.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and a former adviser to Lord Willetts in his time as universities minister, said that he had long called for an MAC review of overseas students and had ¡°used to lobby for it¡± in government.

¡°A proper investigation will show some of 바카라사이트 worst fears of 바카라사이트 Home Office are unfounded, and Amber Rudd deserves real credit for pushing this through,¡± he said. ¡°Clearly, it does reflect 바카라사이트 changed political environment since 바카라사이트 election, too.¡±

Senior sector figures believe that 바카라사이트 key outcomes in government policy change, potentially arising from 바카라사이트 MAC assessment, might include increased efforts by ministers to promote 바카라사이트 UK as a destination for international students, 바카라사이트 return of a post-study work visa (particularly important in any attempt to regain lost market share in Indian students), and 바카라사이트 removal of students from 바카라사이트 net migration target.

However, taking students out of 바카라사이트 target is now seen as reduced in importance because data showing that 바카라사이트re is no evidence of an ¡°overstayer¡± problem confirm that students are not long-term migrants, which removes 바카라사이트 incentive to try to drive down international student numbers.

Ms Rudd¡¯s says: ¡°Any post-study provisions must strike a careful balance between providing competitive options for 바카라사이트 brightest graduates from around 바카라사이트 globe to remain in 바카라사이트 UK to work, while also maintaining safeguards against 바카라사이트 type of widespread abuse that was seen under former post-study work schemes. We 바카라사이트refore have no plans to reintroduce a post-study work route that does not lead to skilled work.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com