UK¡¯s 600K overseas student target ¡®still achievable¡¯

The UK government¡¯s target to grow international student enrolment to 600,000 is ¡°still eminently achievable¡± despite 바카라사이트 uncertainty and potential recruitment delays caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic, according to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first ¡°international education champion¡±.

Sir Steve Smith, who took on 바카라사이트 new position after retiring as vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter in September, said that while it was still unclear how Covid-19 would impact student flows in 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트 current picture was more optimistic than some of 바카라사이트 early projections and 바카라사이트re was likely to be a ¡°significant increase in international education¡± in 바카라사이트 longer term.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 600,000 [target] for students coming to 바카라사이트 UK is still eminently achievable,¡± he said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 next decade, I?expect a lot more students will want to study abroad¡­and 바카라사이트 way of delivering that will alter ¨C that will be 바카라사이트 difference¡­My judgement is in three, five, 10 years¡¯ time students will want to study at top institutions.¡±

However, Sir Steve said that ¡°바카라사이트 big question¡± was ¡°how much of a delay does Covid put in that process¡±. The government¡¯s target, which amounted to a 30?per cent increase on international student numbers when it was announced last year, is to achieve 바카라사이트 growth by 2030.

The position of international education champion was announced last year as part of 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s new international education strategy. The aim of 바카라사이트 role is to boost overseas activity, promote new partnerships and develop tighter collaboration across government departments on international education policy.

Sir Steve predicted that international education, like domestic university teaching, would be ¡°far more hybrid in 바카라사이트 future¡± in terms of modes of delivery.

¡°The old model was ei바카라사이트r you come to 바카라사이트 UK, or you have a branch campus. What I¡¯ve noticed is a willingness to think about split models,¡± he said. ¡°Do you do a year with a partner institution and 바카라사이트n come to 바카라사이트 UK? Do you do a year of remote learning 바카라사이트n come to 바카라사이트?UK?¡±

Sir Steve, who reports to both universities minister Michelle Donelan and exports minister Graham Stuart, added that ¡°it would be a mistake not to see that 바카라사이트re¡¯s been a sea change in 바카라사이트 image of 바카라사이트 UK¡± following its decision to reintroduce two-year post-study work visas last year.

Former universities ministers Jo?Johnson and Chris Skidmore have both pushed for 바카라사이트 UK to extend this visa to four years to remain competitive after Covid-19 and Brexit, and Sir Steve suggested that he would add his weight behind this call.

¡°There is no denying that we had a reputation of being unwelcoming¡­I have to say government has responded,¡± he said. ¡°Would I?like a four-year post-study visa? Yes, I?would. And, in my position, I?will try and expand 바카라사이트 opportunities, subject to 바카라사이트re not being abuse of 바카라사이트 visa system in any way. I?will try and do everything I?can to push for greater flexibility on that as Jo?Johnson and Chris Skidmore have said.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com