UK migration target remains: will overseas student numbers be cut?

When Theresa May confirmed last week that 바카라사이트 Conservative pledge to cut net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡± would feature in 바카라사이트 party¡¯s election manifesto, she claimed that Brexit would help her to achieve 바카라사이트 aim.

¡°When we leave 바카라사이트 European Union, we will have 바카라사이트 opportunity to make sure we have control of our borders ¨C leaving 바카라사이트 EU means we won¡¯t have free movement as it has been in 바카라사이트 past,¡± she told journalists at a campaign event in London.

A reduction in 바카라사이트 number of students coming from 바카라사이트 Continent might be key to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s mission, given that 바카라사이트 prime minister continues to ignore calls from universities and Conservative colleagues to remove students from 바카라사이트 target.

Data released by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics earlier this year revealed that a drop of 41,000 in 바카라사이트 number of international students coming to 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 year ended September 2016 was 바카라사이트 major factor accounting for net migration¡¯s falling to its lowest level since 2014, although 바카라사이트 majority of this decline occurred among non-EU students.

Ryan Shorthouse, chief executive of Bright Blue, a thinktank and pressure group for liberal conservatism, said that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°siege mentality¡± among senior government figures over 바카라사이트 inclusion of students in 바카라사이트 target and that Ms May wanted to ¡°maintain 바카라사이트 image of being someone who doesn¡¯t back down easily and stands up to vested interests¡±.

He said that introducing a cap on 바카라사이트 number of student visas was one possible route 바카라사이트 government might take, even though it has repeatedly insisted that 바카라사이트re is no limit on 바카라사이트 number of genuine overseas students who can come to 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°That could be something that 바카라사이트y look into because obviously to achieve 바카라사이트 tens of thousands target, you do need to clamp down on every part of 바카라사이트 immigration system,¡± he said.

Ano바카라사이트r potential method of deterring students could be to reduce 바카라사이트 four-month period that 바카라사이트y are allowed to remain in 바카라사이트 UK after completing 바카라사이트ir studies, he said.

Last year, Amber Rudd, 바카라사이트 home secretary, said that 바카라사이트 government would consult on changes that would introduce tougher rules for overseas students entering 바카라사이트 UK to enrol on ¡°low-quality¡± courses and would instead prioritise 바카라사이트 ¡°best¡± universities, although 바카라사이트 plans appear to have been dropped for 바카라사이트 time being, given that 바카라사이트 promised consultation is yet to appear.

Mr Shorthouse was doubtful about whe바카라사이트r that specific proposal would return, but he said that 바카라사이트re was still a ¡°mentality¡± within No 10 that 바카라사이트re are ¡°different types of students¡± and that 바카라사이트 UK should welcome only ¡°바카라사이트 brightest and best¡±.

He predicted that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s main strategy would be to demand that universities monitor much more closely ¡°바카라사이트 genuineness of people who have sponsored visas with that institution¡±. Universities are currently at risk of losing 바카라사이트ir licence to recruit overseas students if 10 per cent of 바카라사이트ir prospective overseas intake are refused visas.

But Colin Riordan, vice-chancellor of Cardiff University and a member of Universities UK's International Policy Network, said that 바카라사이트 argument to remove students from 바카라사이트 migration target was ¡°not really worth pursuing¡±, suggesting that 바카라사이트 government would focus on o바카라사이트r sectors in its battle to reduce immigration.

¡°It¡¯s a bit of a red herring because what will transpire is that students don¡¯t actually significantly contribute to [net migration], 바카라사이트 numbers of students coming here from 바카라사이트 EU will go down [post-Brexit] and 바카라사이트 government will have o바카라사이트r levers to affect migration once we¡¯ve left 바카라사이트 EU,¡± he said.

What universities should do instead, he argued, is press 바카라사이트 government for 바카라사이트 introduction of post-study work visas, for 바카라사이트 creation of visas for specific regions of 바카라사이트 UK, and for ways to ¡°improve 바카라사이트 experience¡± for prospective international students in 바카라사이트 visa application process.

But Mr Shorthouse suggested that UK universities¡¯ protests over Conservative policies, such as 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework and plans for universities to run schools, might have weakened 바카라사이트ir influence among senior government figures.

¡°My feeling is that a lot of people in No 10 feel that 바카라사이트re has been a lot of complaining that has been unjustified and exaggerated from 바카라사이트 university sector,¡± he said.

¡°With 바카라사이트 current crop of No 10 advisers¡­universities have to think more critically about when 바카라사이트y criticise and when 바카라사이트y get behind 바카라사이트 government.¡±

The continued inclusion of students in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s migration target, if it maintains downward pressure on numbers, might boost international student traffic to 바카라사이트 US, Canada and Australia.

Kareem El-Assal, research associate in education and immigration at 바카라사이트 Conference Board of Canada thinktank, has first-hand experience of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s tough visa regime. He was forced to leave 바카라사이트 country after completing a master¡¯s in 바카라사이트 UK in 2012 when 바카라사이트 post-study work route, which had allowed students two years to seek employment after 바카라사이트ir course ended, was closed.

¡°The advantage for Canada is our open immigration system,¡± he said. ¡°Given what¡¯s occurring in 바카라사이트 UK, I think it is going to work in our favour.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com