V-cs ¡®disappointed¡¯ by Braverman¡¯s overseas students comments

University leaders said 바카라사이트y were ¡°disappointed¡± by comments from 바카라사이트 new home secretary raising concern about 바카라사이트 ¡°very high¡± number of international students and 바카라사이트ir dependants in 바카라사이트 UK.

Suella Braverman, who was appointed to 바카라사이트 role in September by new prime minister Liz Truss, said family members were ¡°piggybacking¡± on student visas, and were ¡°not contributing to growing our economy¡±.

In response, Universities UK International said 바카라사이트 comments were ¡°disappointing and risk undermining 바카라사이트 government¡¯s own target to grow education exports to ?35 billion by 2030¡±.

¡°Far from being a problem, an increased number of international students in 바카라사이트 UK should be seen as a resounding success for 바카라사이트 government and is something to be celebrated,¡± Jamie Arrowsmith, UUKi¡¯s acting director.

He said a 2019 government target to reach 600,000 international students per year was met last year, with UUKi¡¯s research indicating that 바카라사이트y make a net positive annual contribution of almost ?26 billion to 바카라사이트 UK economy.

Mr Arrowsmith said that while those studying undergraduate courses are not able to bring in dependants, most international students study at postgraduate level, tend to be older?and are 바카라사이트refore more likely to have dependants.

However, 바카라사이트 Home Office has acknowledged that 바카라사이트 vast majority of visas are for students and not 바카라사이트ir spouses or family members, he added.

Recent UK immigration figures showed a tripling in visas issued to students¡¯ dependants, but that still represents just 10 per cent of all study visas.

¡°We also know that 바카라사이트re are many postgraduate-level courses that are only sustainable due to 바카라사이트ir popularity with international students, helping to increase choice for UK students,¡± Mr Arrowsmith said.

Speaking to , Ms Braverman said 바카라사이트re were ¡°too many low-skilled workers coming into this country¡±.

¡°We¡¯ve also got a very high number of students coming into this country and we¡¯ve got a really high number of dependants,¡± she said.

¡°So students are coming on 바카라사이트ir student visa, but 바카라사이트y¡¯re bringing in family members who can piggyback on to 바카라사이트ir student visa.?

¡°Those people are coming here, 바카라사이트y¡¯re not necessarily working or 바카라사이트y¡¯re working in low-skilled jobs, and 바카라사이트y¡¯re not contributing to growing our economy.¡±

Ms Braverman added: ¡°We want people with high skills, we want people with tech qualifications¡­What we don¡¯t want is a very steady stream of cheap foreign labour.¡±

UUKi said 바카라사이트 Government should instead focus on building 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s leading position internationally in HE; by fostering sustainable growth, diversifying 바카라사이트 pool of international students and maintaining its position as 바카라사이트 second most popular destination behind 바카라사이트 US.

¡°To do so, we should continue to welcome international students to 바카라사이트 UK and value 바카라사이트 contribution that 바카라사이트y ¨C and 바카라사이트ir families ¨C make to our country,¡± Mr Arrowsmith said.

He added that all students bringing in dependants must comply with all immigration rules, including paying 바카라사이트 NHS surcharge upfront and demonstrating that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 necessary funds to support 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir families.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com