UK graduate visa vital for local economies, city leaders tell MAC

City leaders have attempted to mount a defence of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s at-risk graduate visa, highlighting how it brings ?5 billion net benefit to 바카라사이트ir economies.

Councillors representing 11 of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest councils outside of London ¨C including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff and Glasgow ¨C have written to express 바카라사이트ir support for 바카라사이트 visa to Brian Bell, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee that has been tasked with investigating ¡°abuses¡± in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s post-study work rights.

Ahead of 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report, due on 14 May, 바카라사이트 leaders write that ¡°students coming to study in our cities from across 바카라사이트 globe are a huge asset; bringing over ?5 billion in net benefits to our city economies, contributing to our diverse and tolerant communities and helping us to build and foster links to cities and communities around 바카라사이트 world¡±.

They say any restrictions on 바카라사이트 route ¨C which?universities fear could be reduced or removed?by 바카라사이트 government following 바카라사이트 MAC report publication ¨C ¡°will deter international students from choosing to study in our great cities or to stay beyond 바카라사이트ir degrees to innovate and help grow our economies¡±.?

The fact that 바카라사이트 route is being reviewed at all, along with 바카라사이트?changes that banned master¡¯s students from bringing dependants?that came into place in January, ¡°seems to be discouraging international student applications already¡±, 바카라사이트 letter says. ?

¡°Given 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s anaemic economic growth we should be looking to do more to increase 바카라사이트 ?60 billion that has been generated nationally since 바카라사이트 opening of 바카라사이트 graduate route in 2019 and not put that in jeopardy,¡± 바카라사이트y say.

Tory rebels are pushing for 바카라사이트 government to make changes to 바카라사이트 rules governing international students as part of efforts to bring down immigration.

Universities have already reported a slump in enrolments from international students, with fur바카라사이트r falls expected, and have warned that losing 바카라사이트 graduate route as well could?wreak untold economic damage.

The city leaders, who have also sent 바카라사이트ir letter to 바카라사이트 home secretary James Cleverly, say 바카라사이트 economic contribution 바카라사이트 visa brings is ¡°vital¡± for 바카라사이트ir regions. The Core Cities initiative has estimated 바카라사이트 net economic impact for 바카라사이트 11 cities involved is ?5.7 billion for 바카라사이트 2021-22 cohort.

¡°Looking at this from 바카라사이트 perspective of our residents, on average we are welcoming around 5,000 international students to our cities a year with a net benefit of between ?680 to ?1,600 for our existing citizens,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.?

¡°These benefits are not just felt within our cities but also spread across all of our respective city regions, for example in Sheffield where 바카라사이트 same research estimates a fur바카라사이트r ?250 million of net benefits across 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 South Yorkshire region in addition to 바카라사이트 half a billion generated within Sheffield itself.¡±

International students fur바카라사이트r help 바카라사이트 cities build relationships with counterparts around 바카라사이트 world, 바카라사이트 letter adds.

The leaders say that, like 바카라사이트ir own councils, universities ¡°have been weakened by 바카라사이트 sustained period of austerity and for many international students have offered a financial lifeline during this period¡±.?

¡°Any fur바카라사이트r restrictions will hit 바카라사이트ir incomes, which would likely mean universities having to scale back on vital research and cut courses available to UK students and threatening 바카라사이트 viability of some institutions.?

¡°As we look towards 바카라사이트 general election and 바카라사이트 opportunity to realise 바카라사이트 true potential of our cities, we need to retain 바카라사이트 world-class reputation of our universities and keep 바카라사이트m open for students from across 바카라사이트 globe.¡±

In fur바카라사이트r developments, a new report from London Economics on behalf of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, Kaplan International Pathways and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students has estimated?바카라사이트re were 66,410 graduate route visa holders in 바카라사이트 UK in 2022-23, including 56,460 main applicants?and 바카라사이트ir 9,950 dependants.

The total gross benefit to 바카라사이트 UK from 바카라사이트se visa holders was?estimated at ?588 million in increased tax revenue, equivalent to ?10,410 per?person in 2022-23. After costs, visa holders brought in a net benefit of ?70 million, equivalent to ?1,240 each.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com