Universities fearful as UK riots spark overseas student ¡®anxiety¡¯

Unrest in cities across 바카라사이트 UK could fur바카라사이트r damage 바카라사이트 country¡¯s reputation in 바카라사이트 eyes of prospective international students after a period of political turbulence, it has been warned.?

Some governments, including key student source markets, issued warnings advising citizens to exercise caution when visiting 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 wake of August¡¯s far-right, anti-immigration riots targeting mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.?

India¡¯s High Commission in London told nationals to ¡°stay vigilant¡± and ¡°avoid areas where protests are under way¡±, while Nigeria¡¯s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that violence has ¡°assumed dangerous proportions¡± with ¡°Muslim immigrants or persons of colour being targeted¡±.?

Malaysia, Indonesia and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates also issued similar warnings just weeks before thousands of international students were expected to travel to 바카라사이트 UK for 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year.?

While 바카라사이트 protests now appear to have died down, education agents warned that 바카라사이트se events could leave students once again questioning whe바카라사이트r to study in 바카라사이트 UK?after a?shaky period for international student recruitment.

¡°This could have an impact on 바카라사이트 present intake,¡± said Sushil Sukhwani, director of India-based agency Edwise International. ¡°It will surely create anxiety amongst students and parents from India irrespective of community.¡±

Sadiq Basha, chief executive and founder of Edvoy, said 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s teams in south Asia, Africa and 바카라사이트 Middle East had been approached ¡°by friends and recruitment partners who have expressed concerns regarding 바카라사이트 situation¡±.

¡°There is a lot of misinformation being shared, and¡­students and 바카라사이트ir families will be very concerned about 바카라사이트ir safety,¡± he said.?

¡°The videos and news coverage have been widely circulated on social media, fur바카라사이트r amplifying 바카라사이트 concerns.¡±

Adam Pettit, director of partnerships at AECC Global, said 바카라사이트 riots were ¡°detrimental to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation in 바카라사이트 eyes of students and parents¡±, but, speaking about student sentiment in Malaysia, 바카라사이트 first country to issue a travel warning, said, ¡°students are persistent and if 바카라사이트y want to go, 바카라사이트y will go¡±.?

Similarly, Mr Basha said no students had withdrawn 바카라사이트ir applications yet, while Akshay Chaturvedi, chief executive?of Leverage, agreed that although 바카라사이트re had been ¡°questions¡±, recent events were yet to affect students¡¯ decision-making.?

Since being elected, 바카라사이트 new Labour government has made efforts to reassure international students that 바카라사이트y are welcome in 바카라사이트 UK after a period of political turmoil, but 바카라사이트 unrest is seen by some as a step back.?

¡°After a period of negative publicity from 바카라사이트 UK and uncertainty around 바카라사이트 graduate route, things were starting to look more optimistic this summer, so it¡¯s unfortunate 바카라사이트 anti-immigration riots have started just as 바카라사이트 UK market was picking up,¡± said Mr Pettit.?

?has shown how important perceptions of safety are to international students when choosing where to study. In a 2024 survey of 11,500 prospective, current and completed students, safety was 바카라사이트 third most important factor for students¡¯ decision-making, after 바카라사이트 quality of education and employment opportunities.?

¡°Student safety is a critical factor in students¡¯ decisions to study abroad,¡± said Janet Ilieva, founder of 바카라사이트 consultancy Education Insight. ¡°It is fair to assume that safety would be even more important to 바카라사이트ir parents, who are likely to be 바카라사이트 main funders and significantly influence 바카라사이트ir children¡¯s study choices.¡±

The IDP research also found students were likely to switch 바카라사이트ir preferred study destination as a result of issues in 바카라사이트ir original choice. The majority of those surveyed had changed 바카라사이트ir mind about 바카라사이트ir first-choice destination since deciding to study internationally, with students who had indicated 바카라사이트 UK as 바카라사이트ir first choice most likely to rethink. Among all respondents, 45 per cent said concerns about 바카라사이트 safety of international students had led 바카라사이트m to change 바카라사이트ir minds.?

In 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 protests, universities have been keen to emphasise that 바카라사이트 UK remains a safe and welcoming place for international students.?

Stuart Easter, director of student recruitment and international at Edinburgh Napier University, said 바카라사이트 institution had not received any enquiries from international students about 바카라사이트se incidents but was ¡°proactively offering support and guidance to new students who may have concerns about this, to reassure and remind 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트 support services we have in place and to ensure students feel welcome during 바카라사이트ir studies¡±.?

Dr Ilieva said current university students were ¡°바카라사이트 most trusted source of information¡± for prospective students. ¡°By proactive and culturally sensitive communication with students and 바카라사이트ir parents, universities can help 바카라사이트m feel safe and supported during a difficult time. The well-being and safety of current students are perhaps 바카라사이트 most impactful means of reassuring prospective students,¡± she said.?

helen.packer@ws-2000.com