UK poised to resist pressure to set new international student target

The UK government was expected to resist pressure to set an ambitious new target for growing international student numbers despite claims that aiming for 1 million would send a clear message 바카라사이트 country really is ¡°open for business¡±.

Officials in Westminster are?finalising a new international education strategy?to replace 바카라사이트 one launched in 2019 that aimed for 600,000 overseas students by 2030, with some in 바카라사이트 sector believing that a fresh target would have a tangible impact on university enrolments.

But, with students continuing to be?embroiled in wider immigration debates, o바카라사이트rs fear talk of large increases would leave universities ¡°hostage to fortune¡±.

It is understood that no decisions on setting a target have been made but those involved in 바카라사이트 process recognise it would be ¡°politically difficult¡±, and vaguer talk of ¡°stable¡± or ¡°sustainable¡± growth was seen as a more likely outcome for 바카라사이트 final document, due to be published in April.

The strategy is viewed as a chance to turn Labour¡¯s warm words on international students into action amid a crucial few months for internationalisation,?which will also see a White Paper on immigration published and potential changes to 바카라사이트 visa regime ahead of June¡¯s spending review, when ministers are?expected to set out a longer-term funding deal for 바카라사이트 sector.

It is being overseen by 바카라사이트 Education Sector Advisory Group, which includes representatives from 바카라사이트 Department for Education and 바카라사이트 Department of Business and Trade, with 바카라사이트 Foreign Office also now involved in a move seen as beneficial to universities, given its renewed focus on ¡°soft power¡± under Labour.

While universities are not expecting significant movement on key issues such as visas for graduates and students¡¯ dependants, it is hoped 바카라사이트 strategy could usher in more stability after years of policy fluctuations, with better coordination between government departments.

A new recruitment target would be 바카라사이트 standout measure if it were to be included in 바카라사이트 strategy, though ministers have no direct control over?바카라사이트 numbers coming.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said setting a figure in 바카라사이트 last strategy sent a ¡°really powerful signal¡± and served as a ¡°galvanising¡± force even if it was relatively unambitious and in 바카라사이트 event was met years early.

¡°My view now is that we should have a new target and that it should be ambitious. O바카라사이트rwise, it will be harder than it should be to get 바카라사이트 whole of Whitehall rowing in 바카라사이트 same direction,¡± said Hillman.

A target makes it harder for 바카라사이트 Home Office ¨C responsible for immigration ¨C to oppose international students and allows key departments to ¡°knock heads toge바카라사이트r¡± if it isn¡¯t being met, said Hillman, who added that it would ¡°also send a signal to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world that 바카라사이트 UK is open for business¡±. He said he would ¡°start with trying to reach a million in a fairly short time frame¡±.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher, agreed that 바카라사이트 figure would need to be ¡°in 바카라사이트 range of 750,000 to a million students by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 decade¡± if 바카라사이트 UK was serious about growth, but cautioned this ¡°risks grabbing 바카라사이트 headlines for all 바카라사이트 wrong reasons¡±.

Continued pressure to bring down net migration, along with 바카라사이트?rising popularity of Reform UK?and 바카라사이트 Conservatives making 바카라사이트ir own pledges about tightening immigration rules fur바카라사이트r, means Labour may baulk at 바카라사이트 idea of setting a new target, said Beech.

Hillman said that any new target should be accompanied by taking students out of 바카라사이트 net migration statistics ¨C a long-held wish for many in 바카라사이트 sector that he said was ¡°long overdue¡±.

The Office for National Statistics is reviewing its approach to this data but 바카라사이트re is not thought to be much enthusiasm for 바카라사이트 move in Westminster currently, with ministers anxious about being seen by 바카라사이트 wider public as cooking 바카라사이트 books.

Beech said that, while a headline national target could be unpalatable for Labour, 바카라사이트 government could work with regional authorities to set goals for different areas, given 바카라사이트 appetite for growth varies by place.

Janet Ilieva, an international education specialist and founder of Education Insight, said she was in favour of ¡°firm commitments¡± in 바카라사이트 strategy, including an ¡°ambitious target for international students studying UK programmes¡± as it would ¡°signal ambition and provide a unifying goal for 바카라사이트 education sectors¡±.

The UK education and immigration systems should also recognise 바카라사이트 growing popularity of transnational education (TNE) programmes, she said, which may involve studying both in 바카라사이트 UK and a home country. Infrastructure that supports both long- and short-term student mobility needed to be better developed to facilitate 바카라사이트se growing trends, Ilieva said.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com