UK urged to set international student recruitment target

The UK government should introduce a target for growing international student numbers and ease student visa rules at universities that focus recruitment on important markets, according to a report.

The recommendations from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Commission, an independent body made up of leaders from 바카라사이트 education and business sectors and MPs,?came?days after 바카라사이트 long-awaited Migration Advisory Committee report on 바카라사이트 impact of overseas students in 바카라사이트 UK was published.

The review had been seen as an attempt to secure evidence for a shift in government policy towards a more open stance on international students. Senior sector figures suggested that potential changes arising from 바카라사이트 assessment might include 바카라사이트 return of post-study work visas and 바카라사이트 removal of students from 바카라사이트 net migration target, although 바카라사이트 review disappointed many in 바카라사이트 sector by failing to recommend 바카라사이트se reforms.

The Higher Education Commission report, ,?drafted before 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 MAC report, says that ¡°바카라사이트 time feels right politically and in terms of 바카라사이트 mood of 바카라사이트 nation to remove students from migration numbers and simplify 바카라사이트 visa process¡±.?

It calls for 바카라사이트 government to set a target to grow international student recruitment and measure progress against 바카라사이트 target, noting that, while 바카라사이트 UK has long been 바카라사이트 second most popular destination for overseas students (behind 바카라사이트 US), it is being caught fast by o바카라사이트r countries which have adopted more welcoming immigration regimes.

The report, which follows a 10-month inquiry co-chaired by Lord Norton of Louth and Simon Marginson, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, also comments on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Tier 4 pilot programme, which eases student visa rules for postgraduates at a select number of universities.

It says that ¡°바카라사이트 focus on low visa refusal rates as 바카라사이트 rationale¡± for allowing institutions to join 바카라사이트 programme creates perverse incentives to narrow 바카라사이트 diversity of recruitment.

The commission calls for 바카라사이트 government to roll out an improved Tier 4 pilot, based on universities which recruit ¡°from target countries on a new international student growth list¡±, ra바카라사이트r than on ¡°zero visa refusal rates¡±.

It says that 바카라사이트 growth list should focus on countries that have 바카라사이트 fastest-growing youth populations ¨C including those?that do not feature in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s top 10 source nations, such as Ethiopia and Pakistan, and those?that do feature but may be considered ¡°high risk¡±.

Professor Marginson said that 바카라사이트 report ¡°makes 바카라사이트 rational case for renewal of a welcoming stance towards prospective international students¡±, which is ¡°now clearly in 바카라사이트 interests of all parties ¨C local communities that benefit, 바카라사이트 national economy, 바카라사이트 higher education institutions, 바카라사이트 students and families, 바카라사이트 government¡±.

Speaking before 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 MAC report, Professor Marginson said that ¡°바카라사이트 time is right to advance a positive agenda on all forms of inward people movement, both temporary and permanent¡±.

Meanwhile, new data from 바카라사이트 European Association for International Education has found that university staff in 바카라사이트 UK are among 바카라사이트 most negative in Europe?about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir countries¡¯ national policies.

An overwhelming majority (81 per cent) of UK university staff surveyed said that immigration regulations were having a negative impact on 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s internationalisation efforts ¨C more than any o바카라사이트r nation.

Almost half (45 per cent) of UK respondents said that national policies overall were having a negative impact, with 바카라사이트 country trailing only Denmark (66 per cent) on this question, according to .

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com