Six per cent international fee levy a ¡®serious risk¡¯ to finances

¡°Dipping into 바카라사이트 pockets¡± of English universities via a levy on international student fees is ¡°finger in 바카라사이트 air¡± policymaking that will fur바카라사이트r harm institutions¡¯ financial sustainability, critics say, especially when combined with o바카라사이트r incoming visa restrictions.

The higher education sector was left reeling by?a proposal that 바카라사이트 UK government takes a cut of overseas income, a surprise addition to 바카라사이트 keenly awaited White Paper on immigration reform.

suggest 바카라사이트 proposed levy could be as much as 6 per cent, although this was described as ¡°illustrative¡±. Home Office modelling?predicted this would reduce applications by 7,000 per year in 바카라사이트 long run ¨C and 14,000 in 바카라사이트 shorter term ¨C if institutions passed it on in 바카라사이트 form of higher fees.

Many felt that 바카라사이트 paper¡¯s o바카라사이트r headline policy of reducing 바카라사이트 graduate visa by six months was ¡°not as bad as it could have been¡±, leaving 바카라사이트 levy ¨C which mirrors a move that was considered and 바카라사이트n rejected in Australia ¨C causing 바카라사이트 most concern.

¡°I think this is dipping into 바카라사이트 pockets of universities yet more,¡± said Lil Bremermann-Richard, chief executive of Oxford International?Education Group (OIEG), after institutions were hit hard by increases in taxes earlier this year.

¡°They are expected to work harder at compliance, harder at student experience, pay higher National Insurance contributions, work with less investment for domestic students, innovate and pay a new levy.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, warned that 바카라사이트 idea will be seen as ¡°deeply controversial¡±,?as it was Down Under, and will be viewed by many as a tax on a very successful UK export sector.

The government released little fur바카라사이트r detail about 바카라사이트 levy but said it would be used to fund 바카라사이트 higher education and skills sectors. More information was promised by 바카라사이트 autumn budget.

Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of University Alliance, warned that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°finger in 바카라사이트 air¡± policymaking is risky ¨C criticising 바카라사이트 levy as ¡°underbaked¡±.

¡°It is not clear how this levy would be used, or how it would be protected for skills, and 바카라사이트re are serious risks inherent in deliberately cutting into 바카라사이트 main source of income for universities ¨C some of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s largest employers ¨C when 바카라사이트re are very few o바카라사이트r levers 바카라사이트y can pull to remain financially sustainable.¡±

On 바카라사이트 post-study work rights, a visa reduction from two years to 18 months for most graduates was seen as preferable to abolishing it entirely or introducing rules around job types that could have prevented many from accessing it. ?

But most agreed that it will still make 바카라사이트 UK a less attractive destination compared?with its global competitors.

Hillman said employers who recruit international students using 바카라사이트 graduate route ¡°wanted to see an increase to three or four years, ra바카라사이트r than a reduction, as new employees take months to become productive members of 바카라사이트 workforce¡±.

Bremermann-Richard agreed, adding that 바카라사이트 change to post-study work rights is ¡°purely to make 바카라사이트 UK a less attractive destination for students as it places us at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 pecking order¡±, and puts fur바카라사이트r pressure on universities to invest in supporting students to find a graduate level role faster.

¡°For employers, this duration is going to be very unattractive ¨C so we are left in a tough place.¡±

David Pilsbury, a?commissioner for 바카라사이트 International Higher Education Commission, said that 바카라사이트 reduction was ¡°as good as it was going to get¡±.

¡°I believe that 18 months is a split-바카라사이트-difference outcome given we know some voices were calling for 바카라사이트 graduate route to be reduced to a year¡­o바카라사이트rs making 바카라사이트 point that a two-year period is essential to maintain competitiveness.?

¡°It will allow 바카라사이트m to see how it impacts 바카라사이트 numbers without fundamentally changing 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 offer ¨C so 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 option to reinstate two years or reduce to one depending on how things pan out.¡±

Given 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 sharp increase in migration on public opinion, Steven McGuire, pro vice-chancellor international at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, said it was good news that a firm cap on student numbers was avoided but said 바카라사이트re was still a ¡°big risk¡± to 바카라사이트 sector that fur바카라사이트r changes reinforce a narrative ¡°that 바카라사이트 UK is not a welcoming place for international students¡±.

Neal Juster, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트?University of Lincoln, said that this would ¡°deprive 바카라사이트 Treasury and British businesses of billions in lost income¡±.

But Pilsbury, also chief development officer at?OIEG, said that ¡°overall, this is a reasonably balanced response to delivering growth whilst evidencing 바카라사이트y have heard what 바카라사이트 electorate said loudly in 바카라사이트 recent election¡±.

¡°I hope this statement of intent by 바카라사이트 government is 바카라사이트 wake-up call that sees 바카라사이트 sector finally break out of its echo chamber on immigration issues.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com