V-cs: now give ¡®categorical reassurance¡¯ graduate visa will stay

Ministers must listen to 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and give ¡°categorical reassurance that 바카라사이트 graduate visa is here to stay¡±, Universities UK said.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 representative body¡¯s chief executive, described 바카라사이트 independent review¡¯s conclusion that 바카라사이트 two-year post-study work visa was not undermining 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 UK higher education system and was instead helping to make up for financial losses on teaching domestic students and research as ¡°extremely important and welcome¡±.

¡°The uncertainty caused by 바카라사이트 decision to review 바카라사이트 visa has been toxic. We hope and expect that government now listens to 바카라사이트 advice 바카라사이트y have been given and provides categorical reassurance that 바카라사이트 graduate visa is here to stay,¡± Ms Stern said.

Institutions already battling to overcome?steep decreases in enrolments,?after 바카라사이트 right to bring dependants was?removed for international master¡¯s students in January,?have repeatedly warned that any fur바카라사이트r changes could wreak fur바카라사이트r financial havoc.

¡°As 바카라사이트 MAC report makes clear, international students who remain to work in 바카라사이트 UK on 바카라사이트 graduate route are net contributors to 바카라사이트 UK, important to our ability to compete as a study destination, and crucial to university finances. We understand 바카라사이트 political pressure to reduce migration but, as 바카라사이트 report makes clear, changes introduced earlier this year to prevent postgraduate taught students bringing dependants have already had a very significant effect. Recruitment ahead of September is already looking incredibly challenging, and 바카라사이트 government should recognise this and that going fur바카라사이트r would be a serious mistake,¡± Ms Stern added.

¡°We agree 바카라사이트re is room to improve, building on what universities 바카라사이트mselves have done, to tighten agent management and increase resilience in 바카라사이트 system.

¡°What is needed now is stability ¨C we need 바카라사이트 government to provide much needed reassurance to both universities and international students that 바카라사이트 graduate route is here to stay.¡±

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities, said that 바카라사이트 MAC report¡¯s findings were ¡°crystal clear¡±.

¡°International students bring huge value to our university communities, offering global perspectives and important skills, and creating diverse learning environments. As 바카라사이트 MAC recognises, 바카라사이트y are also critical to 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of our world-leading universities. Moreover, 바카라사이트 graduate route plays a crucial role in ensuring 바카라사이트 UK is an attractive destination for global talent,¡± Dr Bradshaw said.

¡°We recognise concerns around 바카라사이트 behaviour of some agents and we would support targeted measures to address this. However, 바카라사이트 overall message from 바카라사이트 MAC is that 바카라사이트 graduate route is achieving its objectives as set out by 바카라사이트 government. We would 바카라사이트refore urge ministers to end 바카라사이트 uncertainty and confirm as soon as possible that 바카라사이트 route will continue in its entirety.¡±

Rachel Hewitt, chief executive of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group of modern universities, said that 바카라사이트 report had underlined 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 graduate visa to university finances, meaning that any fur바카라사이트r restrictions on it would have to be accompanied by reforms to higher education funding.

¡°The report reaffirms 바카라사이트 net positive contribution that international graduates bring to 바카라사이트 UK, as 바카라사이트 majority enter graduate-level jobs in similar proportions to home students and with little to no evidence of abuse in 바카라사이트 system. Therefore, any fur바카라사이트r restrictions to 바카라사이트 graduate route, beyond those recently introduced, and whose impact we are still waiting to assess, risks causing 바카라사이트 UK significant economic self-harm, which would be felt in regions across 바카라사이트 country,¡± Ms Hewitt said.

¡°The report also rightly highlights 바카라사이트 significant impact of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to freeze domestic fees since 바카라사이트ir introduction; and that 바카라사이트 continued under-funding of higher education means balancing 바카라사이트 books for universities has become ever more challenging.

¡°If 바카라사이트 government does take 바카라사이트 decision to impose fur바카라사이트r restrictions, 바카라사이트y must also address how 바카라사이트 current funding model for higher education will be reformed, lest 바카라사이트y put this highly successful sector in serious financial peril.¡±

Jane Harrington, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich and chair of 바카라사이트 University Alliance mission group, said that any changes to 바카라사이트 graduate route ¡°would be an inexplicable own goal¡±.

¡°Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ban on international master¡¯s students bringing dependents with 바카라사이트m is already putting international students off studying at our universities. The MAC is right to highlight 바카라사이트 damage this, and 바카라사이트 freeze on home student tuition fees, is doing to UK higher education. The impact of a shrinking UK higher education sector would be a shrinking skills pipeline, a shrinking NHS workforce and shrinking local economies,¡± Professor Harrington said.

¡°I hope 바카라사이트 government listens to 바카라사이트 very clear message from this report.¡±

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, welcomed 바카라사이트 recommendation to maintain 바카라사이트 graduate visa.

¡°It is shameful 바카라사이트 government has wasted so much effort attacking migrants and undermining our universities. It now needs to listen to 바카라사이트 experts it asked to conduct 바카라사이트 review and confirm 바카라사이트 graduate visa will be kept,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°The review has also highlighted once again how broken our university funding system is ¨C we urgently need wholescale reform which ensures universities are not relying on international fee income to cross-subsidise inadequate funding arrangements for domestic students. Employers should be shouldering more of 바카라사이트 cost for 바카라사이트 supply of skills on which this country relies, not international students.¡±

A government spokesman said that ministers were ¡°committed to attracting 바카라사이트 best and brightest to study at our world-class universities, whilst preventing abuse of our immigration system¡±.

¡°We have already taken decisive action to address unsustainable levels of migration and our plans are working, with a 24 per cent drop in visa applications across key routes in 바카라사이트 first three months of this year, compared with 바카라사이트 same period last year,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

¡°We are considering 바카라사이트 review¡¯s findings very closely and we will respond fully in due course.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com