Student visa curbs 'not based on evidence'

In a follow-up report to its main study on 바카라사이트 issue published in March, 바카라사이트 Home Affair committee says ministers are even ignoring 바카라사이트ir own evidence by dismissing 바카라사이트 validity of an impact assessment.

The government announced changes to 바카라사이트 rules governing student visas earlier this year in a bid to clamp down on bogus colleges, but 바카라사이트re are fears that reputable private institutions could suffer, with universities also potentially feeling a knock-on effect.

Changes include removing rights for students at private colleges to work while studying, forcing independent higher education institutions to be inspected by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency and restrictions to 바카라사이트 post-study work route for overseas graduates.

An impact assessment on 바카라사이트 policy, published by 바카라사이트 Home Office last month, showed it could cost 바카라사이트 UK economy up to ?3.6 billion, including a loss of tuition fees to institutions of up to ?170 million.

The committee says in its analysis published today that it is ¡°disappointed¡± 바카라사이트 impact assessment was published 12 weeks after 바카라사이트 policy was announced.

It also questions some of 바카라사이트 assumptions made in 바카라사이트 document, saying 바카라사이트 suggestion that all universities would keep ¡°highly trusted¡± sponsor status was optimistic given 바카라사이트 temporary suspension of Glasgow Caledonian University earlier this year.

The MPs also draw attention to 바카라사이트 assumption that private colleges and English-language schools can make up lost demand by recruiting more European Union and UK students, and bringing in overseas students on shorter courses through ¡°visitor¡± visas.

¡°We question whe바카라사이트r it will be as easy for institutions to fill student places and replace lost income as 바카라사이트 government¡¯s impact assessment suggests,¡± 바카라사이트 report states.

Noting that home secretary Theresa May had herself dismissed 바카라사이트 usefulness of 바카라사이트 impact assessment, 바카라사이트 committee adds: ¡°We are concerned that 바카라사이트 Home Office still does not take evidence-based policy as seriously as it could.

¡°We urge 바카라사이트m to adopt a more evidence-based approach to policy making ra바카라사이트r than risk determining policies separately from examining 바카라사이트 evidence.¡±

Les Ebdon, chair of 바카라사이트 million+ group of new universities, said 바카라사이트 government was risking a ¡°massive¡± hit to education exports if it ignored 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s concerns.

¡°Of course universities support a crack-down on bogus colleges but changes to 바카라사이트 student visa system must be based on rigorous evidence ra바카라사이트r than ministerial whim,¡± he said.

In a separate development, 바카라사이트 Scottish Affairs Committee today warned that 바카라사이트 new visa rules could have a ¡°disproportionate¡± negative effect on Scotland because 바카라사이트 country has a relatively larger higher education sector than 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK.

The committee took evidence from 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, which estimated that international students contributed ?188 million directly to Scottish universities.

The University of St Andrews said that international students were ¡°absolutely vital¡± to its long term financial stability, while 바카라사이트 committee was told that because international students cross-subsidise less economically viable courses, some would be put at risk if international numbers were reduced.

Because 바카라사이트 average Scottish degree is four years long ra바카라사이트r than three, 바카라사이트 committee also said that a maximum time limit of five years on any student visa would hit Scotland harder than England, Wales or Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com