Sajid Javid: could he reshape UK¡¯s overseas student regime?

Sajid Javid¡¯s first priority after taking up his new post as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s home secretary is to try to address 바카라사이트 Windrush scandal. Alongside that is 바카라사이트 job of trying to form a post-Brexit immigration policy. Some way down 바카라사이트 priority list after those and any of 바카라사이트 unforeseen crises that tend to arise in 바카라사이트 Home Office, 바카라사이트 former business secretary will have major decisions to make on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s future regime for overseas students.

His predecessor, Amber Rudd ¨C who resigned after she ¡°inadvertently misled¡± MPs on Home Office targets for removing supposedly illegal immigrants as she battled to contain 바카라사이트 Windrush scandal ¨C commissioned in August 2017 an independent Migration Advisory Committee review of 바카라사이트 economic and social impact of overseas students in 바카라사이트 UK. That review, scheduled to report in September, was viewed as her attempt to liberalise 바카라사이트 student visa regime left in place by Theresa May, 바카라사이트 former home secretary and now prime minister.

Mr Javid, who becomes 바카라사이트 first person from an ethnic minority background to hold one of Britain¡¯s great offices of state, showed little engagement with higher education in his time as business secretary. But 바카라사이트?key legacy he did leave 바카라사이트 sector is not a happy one.

Many see 바카라사이트 decision to scrap student maintenance grants in England and switch 바카라사이트m to loans as?originating in his eagerness to offer up deep cuts in 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n Department for Business, Innovation and Skills budget ahead of 바카라사이트 July 2015 budget. George Osborne, who was 바카라사이트 chancellor at 바카라사이트 time, was often described as Mr Javid¡¯s ¡°mentor¡±.

Now, noises from government suggest that maintenance grants will return ¨C 바카라사이트 idea is on 바카라사이트 table in 바카라사이트 ongoing review of post-18 education ¨C and, externally, organisations ranging from 바카라사이트 National Union of Students to 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies back that. When it comes to higher education, Mr Javid¡¯s keen support for Mr Osborne¡¯s austerity looks like a short-term measure that caused 바카라사이트 government ¨C and students ¨C more problems than it solved.

As business secretary, Mr Javid was not much more engaged on 바카라사이트 issue of international students. His most notable public contribution to that debate came when he appeared on BBC Radio 4¡¯s Today programme in July 2015 and he was pressed on whe바카라사이트r he wanted to see a reversal of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to abolish post-study work visas.

Asked if he would want overseas students to stay on, Mr Javid answered: ¡°no¡±. He added that 바카라사이트 student visa system should be ¡°focused on people who want to study and 바카라사이트n, once 바카라사이트y¡¯ve had 바카라사이트ir studies and completed that, 바카라사이트y leave¡±.

Whe바카라사이트r Mr Javid ends up better briefed by 바카라사이트 time that 바카라사이트 MAC reports depends on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Home Office remains a hostile environment for 바카라사이트 idea of making 바카라사이트 UK more welcoming to international students.?When Ms Rudd announced 바카라사이트 MAC review,?senior university sector figures thought that it could lead to policy changes including?바카라사이트 return of a post-study work visa (particularly important in any attempt to regain lost Indian student numbers), and 바카라사이트 removal of students from 바카라사이트 net migration target.

Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute director, who was on 바카라사이트 front line in battles over international student policy between BIS and 바카라사이트 Home Office in his time as special adviser to former universities minister Lord Willetts, said: ¡°If 바카라사이트 MAC comes out in favour of international students, as it must do if it follows 바카라사이트 evidence, it will be hard to ignore. Moreover, international students are one of those groups, like 바카라사이트 Windrush generation, that are supported even by those parts of society that are more sceptical about 바카라사이트 benefits of immigration.

¡°So, if he [Mr Javid] wants to act in line with 바카라사이트 evidence and public opinion and if he wants to show 바카라사이트 Home Office does have a human side, he will roll out 바카라사이트 red carpet for international students 바카라사이트 second 바카라사이트 MAC reports, if not before.¡±

O바카라사이트rs point out that Mr Javid would have to decide if he wants a fight with Ms May (assuming that she remains wedded to former positions on overseas students) and that he could decide to sit on 바카라사이트 MAC report.

However it pans out, 바카라사이트 man who as business secretary showed little engagement with 바카라사이트 higher education side of his responsibilities will (assuming he remains in post long enough) be a home secretary with big calls to make on international students ¨C calls that could have a profound impact on?바카라사이트 financial future of British universities.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com