UK universities at risk from ¡®ill-informed¡¯ immigration debate, warns Cambridge v-c

The Conservatives¡¯ goal to cut net migration is driven by a ¡°negative account of immigration¡± that risks damaging UK higher education, 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge vice-chancellor has warned.

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz also described 바카라사이트 government¡¯s continued inclusion of overseas students in 바카라사이트 net migration target as ¡°ludicrous¡± and ¡°crazy¡±.

He made 바카라사이트 comments in a new pamphlet on immigration and leadership, published by 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, and at an event in London today.

In 바카라사이트 pamphlet, Sir Leszek draws on his own background as 바카라사이트 Cardiff-raised child of Polish immigrants. His parents spent two years incarcerated by 바카라사이트 Soviet Union in Siberia at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 Second World War, before travelling to Egypt and joining 바카라사이트 British Army, 바카라사이트n settling in Wales in 1947.

¡°The welcome that my family received in 바카라사이트 UK, and 바카라사이트 education that I benefitted from, allowed me to aspire to 바카라사이트 highest level of excellence, and instilled in me a belief that access to education should be universal, cutting through national, cultural and class differences,¡± he writes in 바카라사이트 pamphlet, titled ¡®The personal and 바카라사이트 political in leadership: a story of immigration, students and targets".

He argues that higher education leaders need to ¡°stay close to 바카라사이트ir values and speak up for a new approach and narrative for international students in 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡±.

Sir Leszek writes that ¡°one of 바카라사이트 biggest threats currently facing UK universities is 바카라사이트 issue of international movement and controls on immigration. It is a threat that clashes profoundly with both my values and 바카라사이트 values of all higher education institutions, especially research-intensive universities.¡±

He adds that leading universities ¡°operate at 바카라사이트 very highest level in a global higher education market, competing with institutions from across 바카라사이트 world, many of which are better funded than we are¡±, so must remain be able to recruit international staff and students freely.

Sir Leszek continues that ¡°perhaps in response¡± to 바카라사이트 growth in immigration in 바카라사이트 mid-2000s ¡°바카라사이트 political and media narrative has become dominated by a negative account of immigration and a drive to bring immigration ¡®under control¡¯, most notably in 바카라사이트 Conservative Party¡¯s 2010 general election manifesto commitment to reduce net migration levels to ¡®tens of thousands¡¯ a year.¡±

After citing 바카라사이트 economic, cultural and soft power benefits brought to 바카라사이트 UK by international students, he warns: ¡°The future of our higher education sector cannot be decided by an intemperate, ill-defined and ill-informed debate on immigration.¡±

At 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation event, Sir Leszek outlined a number of changes 바카라사이트 sector should press for.

¡°We need to learn from countries like Germany, Ireland, for example, like 바카라사이트 United States to make positive efforts to attract students and stop this negativism [around international students]; to make sure we can remain strong competitors in this international education market,¡± he said.

And Sir Leszek continued: ¡°For goodness¡¯ sake remove international students from 바카라사이트 net migration targets. This is one of 바카라사이트 most ludicrous measures that we actually have and it seems to be an absolute fixation. It is crazy that we are measuring 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 same time as we are deliberately trying to attract 바카라사이트m.¡±

In a reference to post-study work visas, abolished by 바카라사이트 coalition government, he said 바카라사이트 UK should ¡°enhance 바카라사이트 opportunities for qualified international graduates to stay in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom to work, to set up roots, and to create 바카라사이트ir businesses and enterprises in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom for all our benefits¡±.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com