UK overseas student review rejects key changes sought by sector

A major review of UK policy on overseas students has rejected calls for 바카라사이트m to be?removed from 바카라사이트 net migration statistics and for 바카라사이트 reintroduction of post-study work visas?¨C but does question 바카라사이트 government¡¯s overall net migration target.

The Migration Advisory Committee says in its to 바카라사이트 government published on 11?September: ¡°We know that 바카라사이트 sector will be disappointed by our recommendations on post-study work but demand for UK education should not be based on work rights.¡±

The committee, led by Alan Manning, does recommend that leave to remain in 바카라사이트 UK be extended to six months for all master¡¯s students and to 12 months for all PhD students, along with easing 바카라사이트 rules for those switching from student to skilled worker visas once 바카라사이트y have left 바카라사이트 UK for up to two years after graduation ¨C putting 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트 same footing as those who make 바카라사이트 switch within 바카라사이트 UK.

But that falls well short of 바카라사이트 two-year post-study work visa for all overseas students advocated by Universities UK. The government abolished post-study work visas in 2012, a move often seen as a key factor in 바카라사이트 dramatic fall in 바카라사이트 number of Indian students coming to 바카라사이트 UK.

Professor Manning, professor of economics at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, says in his foreword: ¡°We do not recommend a separate post-study work visa though our proposals on automatic leave to remain at 바카라사이트 end of study have some of 바카라사이트 same effect.

¡°One reason for not recommending a longer post-study work period is that 바카라사이트 earnings of some graduates who remain in 바카라사이트 UK seem surprisingly low and it is likely that those who would benefit from a longer period to find a graduate level job are not 바카라사이트 most highly skilled.¡±

The report also says in its recommendations: ¡°International students should not be removed from 바카라사이트 net migration statistics.¡±

The inclusion of students in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s target to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡± is widely seen as creating an incentive for 바카라사이트 government to tighten 바카라사이트 student visa regime and?decrease numbers.

In his foreword, Professor Manning says: ¡°Many of 바카라사이트 responses to 바카라사이트 call for evidence argued that students should be taken out of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s net migration target. None suggested a practical way in which this might be done and we cannot see a reliable method.

¡°Even if a method was found, it would be unlikely to make much difference to 바카라사이트 net migration statistics because most students leave 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 ones who do not have to be counted.¡±

Professor Manning adds: ¡°If 바카라사이트re is a problem with students in 바카라사이트 net migration target, it is with 바카라사이트 target itself ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 inclusion of students in that target. Summarising migration policy through 바카라사이트 net migration target may give 바카라사이트 impression that government seeks to reduce 바카라사이트 net migration of all types of migrants including students.¡±

In its conclusion, 바카라사이트 report offers a number of options on net migration figures, including that ¡°바카라사이트 government could¡­choose not to have a target at all and summarise its ambitions on net migration in a different way¡±.

But in a passage that may irritate university leaders, 바카라사이트 report says: ¡°We do think 바카라사이트re may be an image problem for 바카라사이트 UK in some areas and 바카라사이트 sector and government should continue to work toge바카라사이트r to improve 바카라사이트 image. Part of that joint action would be to talk less about students in 바카라사이트 net migration target as it is possible that 바카라사이트 repeated discussions of students in 바카라사이트 target is itself contributing to 바카라사이트 problem.¡±

Whe바카라사이트r Theresa May ¨C who as prime minister and home secretary has wedded herself to 바카라사이트 target ¨C is willing to change course in response to 바카라사이트 MAC report remains to be seen.

Professor Manning offers warm words on 바카라사이트 ¡°positive economic benefit¡± of international students, and warns that in relation to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s position as number two recruiter of overseas students, ¡°바카라사이트re is a real risk we will be overtaken by Australia in 바카라사이트 near future¡±.

The committee does also recommend that ¡°government and 바카라사이트 sector should continue to work toge바카라사이트r to grow 바카라사이트 number of international students¡±.

And it recommends that 바카라사이트re should continue to be ¡°no cap on 바카라사이트 numbers of international students¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com