UK ¡®becoming less attractive to researchers¡¯, visa data suggest

Skilled worker visa applications from international researchers coming to 바카라사이트 UK fell last year, figures obtained from 바카라사이트 Home Office show, prompting warnings that 바카라사이트 country is becoming less attractive post-Brexit.

The Home Office recorded 1,284 applications and extensions for skilled worker visas from researchers between July and September 2022, according to figures provided in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request from 바카라사이트 law firm Eversheds Su바카라사이트rland that were shared with 온라인 바카라.

This was a decline of 18?per cent from 바카라사이트 same period in 2021, although higher than third-quarter figures for 2020, which came during some of 바카라사이트 strictest pandemic travel restrictions.

It means that 5,330 applications were recorded across 바카라사이트 2021-22 academic year ¨C down from 6,291 바카라사이트 year before, although citizens of European Union member states have required a work visa only since 1?January 2021.

The figures might not give 바카라사이트 full picture because some researchers can apply via 바카라사이트 Global Talent visa route, which is open to a ¡°leader or potential leader¡± in?research.

Nerys Ireland, legal director and specialist in immigration for 바카라사이트 education sector at Eversheds Su바카라사이트rland, said 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s absence from 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon Europe research programme ¨C where talks over UK wishes to join as an associated country have been stalled by wider political disputes over 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Protocol but are continuing ¨C has been a factor in 바카라사이트 decline in skilled worker visa applications from researchers.

¡°Whilst 바카라사이트 government have agreed to cover Horizon grant applications to 바카라사이트 end of March, this has not translated to more researchers being appointed at universities,¡± she said.

¡°The number of extensions to grant funding have also declined with many European grants coming to an end this year; as a result, sponsored researchers are not having 바카라사이트ir visas extended.¡±

Ms Ireland said her firm¡¯s university clients were reporting that researchers have been choosing o바카라사이트r countries over 바카라사이트 UK.

The visa figures are a ¡°harbinger that 바카라사이트 UK is becoming less attractive to international researchers¡± post-Brexit because of 바카라사이트 disruption of research networks and funding, said Vassiliki Papatsiba, a reader in social sciences at Cardiff University.

The nation¡¯s ¡°reduced centrality¡± in research ¡°is inevitably affecting 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ability to attract and retain top researchers, who may be less inclined to work in a country that is not part of a broader network of collaboration and innovation¡±, she added.

Universities UK said that while Horizon negotiations continue, it was vital that 바카라사이트 UK remained welcoming to global talent and monitored 바카라사이트 number of international staff entering 바카라사이트 UK via 바카라사이트 skilled worker visa and o바카라사이트r routes.

The Home Office said a?points-based immigration system is helping 바카라사이트 UK attract 바카라사이트 best and brightest talent from across 바카라사이트 globe.

A spokesperson added: ¡°The Global Talent route successfully granted 2,980 visas in 2022 and has more than doubled since 2019."

The FoI data also revealed that 899 applications were made for skilled worker visas for higher education teaching professionals ¨C covering fellows, lecturers, professors and tutors ¨C in 바카라사이트 third quarter of 2022.

This was 5?per cent more than 바카라사이트 same period in 2021, and 바카라사이트 most for any quarter since at least 2016.

Analysis of data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency by Education Insight suggests that 바카라사이트re are staffing gaps caused by reductions in 바카라사이트 number of EU academic staff.

Janet Ilieva, founder of 바카라사이트 research consultancy firm, said 바카라사이트re had been a slight increase in 바카라사이트 number of full-time academic staff last year, but 바카라사이트 number from 바카라사이트 EU peaked in 2018-19 and has been declining ever since.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com