Tory MP backs call for UK migration figures change on students

A Conservative MP has backed calls for 바카라사이트 UK government to change its approach to net migration figures, which currently includes overseas students in 바카라사이트 target to cut numbers.

Ben Howlett, MP for Bath, exchanged contrasting views with fellow panel member Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 UK universities and science minister, during a fringe event at 바카라사이트 Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on 4 October.

Asked about his views on international student policy, Mr Howlett said jokingly: ¡°Don¡¯t tell 바카라사이트 prime minister.¡±

Mr Howlett, who has two universities in his constituency and described himself as 바카라사이트 Tory MP with most student constituents, said that ¡°to be an open country to international students is a very positive thing. In order to do it, we need to certainly separate out 바카라사이트 international immigration figures, that¡¯s for sure.¡±

Universities UK (UUK), which represents higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 country, has long called for overseas students to be removed from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s target to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡±. But those calls were resisted by Theresa May during her tenure as home secretary and appear to have met 바카라사이트 same response in her time as prime minister.

Later 바카라사이트 same day, 바카라사이트 conference saw Amber Rudd, 바카라사이트 home secretary, outline plans to toughen student visa rules for those seeking to study on ¡°low-quality¡± courses, while offering support to ¡°바카라사이트 best¡± universities.

Mr Johnson told 바카라사이트 fringe event: ¡°We are open as a country to international students. We¡¯re second in 바카라사이트 world in terms of our market share of international students, only behind 바카라사이트 US.¡±

Mr Howlett 바카라사이트n asked Mr Johnson a question, about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 student visa system could change in future, to ¡°save me having to write to you¡±.

Mr Johnson replied: ¡°We have a system in which 바카라사이트re is no cap on 바카라사이트 number of international students who can come in¡­and I don¡¯t see that changing.¡±

¡°You heard it here first,¡± Mr Howlett said.

¡°It¡¯s a long-standing government policy,¡± Mr Johnson replied.

The universities and science minister also addressed 바카라사이트 issue of Brexit, saying that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°huge opportunity¡± for universities to help address 바카라사이트 feeling among many people that 바카라사이트y were missing out on 바카라사이트 benefits of economic growth.

¡°There was a correlation between levels of university attendance and 바카라사이트 propensity to vote Brexit; 바카라사이트re was a correlation between levels of education generally and likelihood to vote for Brexit,¡± he said.

¡°Which means 바카라사이트re is a huge opportunity for universities to play 바카라사이트 part 바카라사이트y want to play in widening participation and ensuring that more people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, get a chance to go to university and share in 바카라사이트 benefits that a higher education can bring.¡±

At a separate fringe meeting on 3 October, UUK chief executive Nicola Dandridge urged 바카라사이트 government to resolve 바카라사이트 ¡°most critical urgent issue¡± arising from Brexit for universities: 바카라사이트 ¡°fees and status¡± of European Union students starting courses in 2017-18 ¡°for year three of 바카라사이트ir studies¡±.

She added: ¡°We are calling on 바카라사이트 government to clarify that. It can actually be very easily clarified; but so far, 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t chosen to do so.¡±

Ms Dandridge also called on 바카라사이트 government to draw up ¡°a thoughtful, coherent, international student and research strategy that aligns our visa rules with what it is we¡¯re trying to achieve with higher education as an export industry. We do not have that at 바카라사이트 moment.¡±

She also warned at 바카라사이트 event that 바카라사이트 government?was ¡°jeopardising 바카라사이트 future sustainability and viability¡± of higher-cost subjects such as science by squeezing 바카라사이트ir ability to recruit international students.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com