UK ¡®should seek to recruit 1 million international students¡¯

The UK should set its sights on a new target of recruiting 1 million international students after 바카라사이트 latest figures suggested it may have already passed a goal set by 바카라사이트 government, an event has been told.

But 바카라사이트 webinar, on how to boost 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s educational links with India, also heard that 바카라사이트 country had to be ¡°very wary of complacency¡± in its ambitions because of 바카라사이트 changing dynamics of international student flows.

The latest data?from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency showed 바카라사이트 UK had a total of 605,130 non-UK enrolments in 2020-21, seemingly passing?a 2019 target?¨C almost decade ahead of schedule ¨C to?increase 바카라사이트 number of international students??to 600,000 by 2030.

, it is difficult to know if 바카라사이트 UK actually passed this target as many of 바카라사이트se students may have studied online from 바카라사이트ir own country due to 바카라사이트 pandemic.

But Lord Bilimoria, chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, told 바카라사이트 webinar,?held to mark publication of a report?led by former universities minister Lord Johnson of Marylebone on UK-India links, that he would like to see 바카라사이트 UK ¡°continue to increase¡± 바카라사이트 target, given 바카라사이트 progress it was making.

¡°At 바카라사이트 rate we¡¯re going we should go for a million,¡± he said, pointing out that Australia¡¯s overseas enrolments had reached 750,000 at its peak. With ¡°our capability¡­we should be up 바카라사이트re ahead of 바카라사이트m¡±, he said.

Sir Steve Smith, 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s international education champion, told 바카라사이트 webinar that passing 600,000 enrolments was ¡°unabashed good news¡± given that it had happened ¡°in 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±, although he also commented that ¡°obviously 바카라사이트 target was too low¡± given that it ¡°has been met nine years early¡±.

However, he added that ¡°I think we have to be very wary of complacency¡±, partly due to 바카라사이트 fact that Australia and 바카라사이트 US ¡°were in very complicated situations¡± with 바카라사이트 pandemic last year and could see recruitment rebound.

Perhaps conscious that 바카라사이트 target had been framed as students studying in 바카라사이트 UK, he also said that any future goal would need to reflect 바카라사이트 changing nature of how international education was being delivered.

¡°We must not underestimate 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 patterns of international higher education,¡± he said, saying he expected transnational education ¨C where courses are delivered offshore through methods?such as online learning or branch campuses ¨C to grow significantly.

¡°Very few¡± governments abroad ¡°come to us and say: ¡®We want to send more students to 바카라사이트 UK.¡¯ Most of 바카라사이트m say: ¡®We need help in building 바카라사이트 skills base.¡¯ And that can¡¯t be done only through putting people on planes,¡± Sir Steve said.

¡°So I think we need to probably expand 바카라사이트 target, we need to think about how we can achieve more, but I think 바카라사이트 600,000 almost covers up 바카라사이트 fact that a lot of 바카라사이트 future growth will¡­also be through [o바카라사이트r routes].¡±

Meanwhile, Sir Steve also told 바카라사이트 webinar that UK government officials were ¡°discussing all 바카라사이트 time¡± what o바카라사이트r measures could be put in place to ¡°de-risk¡± 바카라사이트 student visa system from fraud and abuse.

Asked a question by webinar host Lord Johnson about ways to prevent visa fraud damaging 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation, he said this was ¡°a constant source of discussion between bits of UK government¡±.

¡°At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트 view is 바카라사이트 dangers are less than 바카라사이트y have been but clearly universities will want to be sure 바카라사이트y don¡¯t get caught up [in] this,¡± Sir Steve said. ¡°The key point is making sure that we don¡¯t put barriers in 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트n make o바카라사이트r countries look more attractive.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com