V-cs warn ministers off U-turn on international student enrolment

Vice-chancellors are warning 바카라사이트 UK government that ano바카라사이트r U-turn ¨C this time on international student recruitment ¨C would be a ¡°retrograde step¡±.

Universities UK said any change in policy on growing international student recruitment could result in billions of pounds in lost revenue, wreck 바카라사이트 government¡¯s growth plan and damage local economies.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 government celebrated reaching its own target of recruiting 600,000 international students ahead of schedule ¨C but recent comments from 바카라사이트 home secretary have suggested a shift back towards greater controls on immigration.

Suella Braverman?recently said?family members were ¡°piggybacking¡± on student visas, and were ¡°not contributing to growing our economy¡±.

UUK?has now called for 바카라사이트 home secretary to retract 바카라사이트se remarks, and to reaffirm 바카라사이트 centrality of international students and 바카라사이트ir dependents to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s plans for 바카라사이트 economic future of 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°For a government focused on growth, to try to reduce 바카라사이트 appeal to international students would be bizarre, especially when you consider that 바카라사이트y contribute nearly ?26 billion to 바카라사이트 UK economy ¨C and that this is spread throughout all parts of 바카라사이트 UK,¡± said Vivienne Stern, UUK¡¯s chief executive.

¡°It is even more bizarre when recent growth in international student numbers has been a direct result of pro-growth government policies and visa changes. We strongly urge 바카라사이트 government not to take such a retrograde step.¡±

Research from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, in conjunction with UUK, claims that international students make a net positive contribution of about ?26 billion to 바카라사이트 UK economy.

UUK said 바카라사이트 financial contribution of international students would be central to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s growth strategy, which aims to expand education exports to ?35 billion by 2030.

Academics from abroad also bring immeasurable social and cultural benefit to communities across 바카라사이트 UK, it added.

¡°The fact that so many international students chose to study in 바카라사이트 UK is a real success story, and 바카라사이트 UK benefits in many ways from hosting 바카라사이트m,¡± said Ms Stern.

¡°International students contribute to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global connections in trade, politics and in research, and 바카라사이트y make an enormous economic contribution too.¡±

A Home Office spokesperson said: ¡°Our points-based immigration system ensures we have 바카라사이트 skills and talent we need to support and grow our economy, while also encouraging businesses to invest in British people.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com