'UK doesn't want us, let's go elsewhere'

Proposed changes to 바카라사이트 UK's student-visa system will make it harder for 바카라사이트 country's universities to expand into new markets, according to a student-recruitment expert.

Anthony Pollock, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Australian international student-recruitment agency IDP Education, said that even though 바카라사이트 changes proposed by 바카라사이트 government had yet to be implemented, some students had already been discouraged from applying to 바카라사이트 UK.

"It's already having something of a negative impact," he said. "Students have come to 바카라사이트 conclusion that 바카라사이트 UK is toughening up and it is going to be difficult to get in, so 바카라사이트y are starting to look at alternatives."

Last month, 바카라사이트 Commons Home Affairs Committee was warned by Simeon Underwood, academic registrar at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, that a mishandling of visa reform could cause a "collapse" in international student demand.

Two reports, by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and 바카라사이트 Institute for Public Policy Research, raise similar concerns. In 바카라사이트 Hepi analysis, Edward Acton, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, says that 바카라사이트 plans to slash student visas, particularly for those aiming for university feeder courses, amount to a "hostile act against Britain's universities".

Mr Pollock said that 바카라사이트 UK could learn from 바카라사이트 experience of Australia, where visa reform has made recruitment more difficult in newer student markets such as India, China and Vietnam.

But he added that applications from Australia's more traditional student markets, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong, have remained stable.

"Student demand doesn't disappear; it changes focus," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Pollock said that 바카라사이트 US, which is slowly becoming more open to using international-recruitment agents, was "cautious but interested" in 바카라사이트 opportunities provided by 바카라사이트 approach.

Offering a broad overview of 바카라사이트 market, he said that he expected demand for international study to grow steadily over 바카라사이트 next two decades, and did not expect it to be too affected by 바카라사이트 increase of quality higher education provision in countries such as China and Malaysia.

"What's happening is that 바카라사이트 development of supply in those traditional source markets is proceeding at pace," he said. "On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 middle class and 바카라사이트 aspirations that it has for access to higher education is apparently moving faster."

He added: "I can't see 바카라사이트 underlying demand for 바카라사이트 international experience diminishing below low single-digit growth in 바카라사이트 future."

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.