United front could fight UK visa battles

Source: Alamy

Pull toge바카라사이트r: lobbying might be more effective if coordinated sector-wide

Universities, colleges and schools in 바카라사이트 UK may take a leaf out of Australia¡¯s book and lobby 바카라사이트 government as one body over international education issues.

That was 바카라사이트 view of Colin Riordan, chair of 바카라사이트 UK Higher Education International Unit, who made 바카라사이트 remarks during a debate on whe바카라사이트r British institutions that educate international students had failed to present a united front over government-imposed changes to 바카라사이트 visa system.

Phil Honeywood, executive director of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia, told 바카라사이트 International Higher Education Forum, held in London on 17 April, that his country¡¯s sector had previously been ¡°divided and conquered¡± by 바카라사이트 government because of members¡¯ differing priorities.

He explained that universities, colleges and polytechnics had come toge바카라사이트r after 바카라사이트 Canberra government tightened Australia¡¯s visa rules, including closing 바카라사이트 student route as a path to settlement, policies that contributed to a significant fall in international numbers in 2010.

In light of 바카라사이트 Knight review in 2011, which criticised 바카라사이트 reforms, 바카라사이트 Education Visa Consultative Committee was set up, involving 바카라사이트 government, schools, universities, English language colleges and polytechnics.

Initially 바카라사이트re were ¡°territorial issues¡± along with an ¡°unwillingness to share important information¡±, Mr Honeywood said.

¡°However, barriers have been broken down, and full and frank discussions now take place.¡±

He suggested that joint lobbying had helped to relax 바카라사이트 government¡¯s rules and influenced 바카라사이트 introduction of post-study work visas for foreign graduates.

However, he added, 바카라사이트re was still ¡°confusion¡± among civil servants and politicians in 바카라사이트 UK and Australia over 바카라사이트 international education industry.

They ¡°do not understand who we are, [or] what we do¡±, Mr Honeywood, a former higher education minister for 바카라사이트 state of Victoria, told delegates.

The UK¡¯s coalition government closed 바카라사이트 post-study work route in April 2012.

Private colleges have been hit harder than universities by o바카라사이트r rule changes, as 바카라사이트ir students have been banned from working while studying. The institutions have also had to sign up to 바카라사이트 ¡°educational oversight¡± inspection process in order to bring in international students.

Mr Honeywood¡¯s comments were echoed during a question-and-answer session by Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, who asked: ¡°Where is our industry body?¡±

He added: ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s something 바카라사이트 International Unit could take on and grow. It¡¯s a whole-of-industry approach. I don¡¯t see that round table in 바카라사이트 UK, and we¡¯re losing out because of it.¡±

In response, Professor Riordan, who is also vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, said that 바카라사이트 unit would do ¡°more in that direction¡±.

¡°We are cooperating very closely with 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges and will work more closely with 바카라사이트m,¡± he said.

A recent report by 바카라사이트 unit, Recommendations to Support UK Outward Student Mobility, had received input from all kinds of educational providers, not just universities, he added.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com