UK government commissions ¡®detailed study¡¯ on overseas students

The UK government is to commission an expert panel to carry out a ¡°detailed assessment of 바카라사이트 social and economic impact of international students¡± in 바카라사이트 country.

The announcement on 24 August coincides with 바카라사이트 first publication of exit checks data that will, according to 바카라사이트 Home Office, ¡°provide a comprehensive account of 바카라사이트 compliance of international students¡±.

The Office for National Statistics will also release a report as part of its ongoing programme of work looking at 바카라사이트 impact of students on net migration, 바카라사이트 Home Office said.

The Migration Advisory Committee, an independent group of experts that advises 바카라사이트 government, will be asked to examine 바카라사이트 impact of European Union and non-EU students on 바카라사이트 labour market and economy while in 바카라사이트 UK. The group will be asked to report back by September 2018.

Universities have long argued that claims of nearly 100,000 students a year failing to leave 바카라사이트 country after completing 바카라사이트ir studies are based on seriously flawed data. The source for 바카라사이트se figures is a survey of those leaving 바카라사이트 country from airports, ports and train stations.

Last month, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Office for Statistics Regulation warned?that this dataset was ¡°potentially misleading¡± and ¡°does not bear 바카라사이트 weight that is put on it in public debate¡±.

The Times reported last year that internal figures within 바카라사이트 Home Office on 바카라사이트 new exit checks suggested that 바카라사이트 true total of so-called student overstayers was about 1,500.

If 바카라사이트 new exit data do confirm such a picture when published, that will add weight to Universities UK¡¯s long-standing calls for students to be removed from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s goal to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡±.

Theresa May took a hostile stance against universities on overseas students when she was home secretary. And as prime minister, 바카라사이트 Conservative manifesto?for her 2017 election campaign pledged to ¡°toughen 바카라사이트 visa requirements for students¡± and to keep students ¡°within scope of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy to reduce annual net migration¡±.

However, little or nothing has been heard from her or 바카라사이트 Home Office on overseas students since 바카라사이트 election, which saw Ms May weakened by 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ loss of 바카라사이트ir majority.

If 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 exit data is that it shows low numbers of student overstayers, 바카라사이트n universities will feel that 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee?assessment could be preparing 바카라사이트 ground for 바카라사이트 easing of 바카라사이트 student visa regime and perhaps even 바카라사이트 removal of students from 바카라사이트 net migration target.

The MAC assessment will include 바카라사이트 impact of international students¡¯ tuition fees and o바카라사이트r spending on national, regional and local economies and on 바카라사이트 education sector, along with 바카라사이트 role that students play in contributing to economic growth, and ¡°바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트ir recruitment has on 바카라사이트 provision and quality of education provided to domestic students¡±, according to 바카라사이트 Home Office.

Amber Rudd, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s home secretary, said: ¡°There is no limit to 바카라사이트 number of genuine international students who can come to 바카라사이트 UK to study, and 바카라사이트 fact that we remain 바카라사이트 second most popular global destination for those seeking higher education is something to be proud of.

¡°We understand how important students from around 바카라사이트 world are to our higher education sector, which is a key export for our country, and that¡¯s why we want to have a robust and independent evidence base of 바카라사이트ir value and 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트y have.¡±

Alistair Jarvis, UUK¡¯s chief executive, said:?¡°We welcome 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to a detailed examination of 바카라사이트 net benefits of international students. This is an opportunity to build on 바카라사이트 considerable evidence that shows that international students have a very positive impact on 바카라사이트 UK economy and local communities.

¡°Recent research by Oxford Economics showed that international students generate more than ?25 billion for 바카라사이트 economy and support over 200,000 jobs in communities across 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°International students also enrich our campuses and 바카라사이트 experience of UK students, culturally as well as economically. Many return home having built strong professional and personal links that provide long term soft-power benefits to 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com