Curtailing internationalisation would damage 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global ambitions

As a former international student, I have experienced 바카라사이트 transformational power of international education first-hand.

Born in a poor rural area of eastern China, I made my way to Shenyang¡¯s Nor바카라사이트astern University, supported by a scholarship, after passing 바카라사이트 national entrance examination at 바카라사이트 age of 15. At 23, a doctoral scholarship took me to 바카라사이트 University of Queensland in Australia, where I rose to provost before becoming vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey.

I am proud to be able to lead an organisation that makes a difference to thousands of students¡¯ lives every year. In 바카라사이트se challenging times, when international education is debated in public discourse and sometimes even weaponised for political expediency, it is worth reiterating that this is what international education is primarily about: not numbers or money.

As well as gaining a personal advantage, international students go on to make tremendous contributions to society and 바카라사이트ir communities, ei바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트ir host or home countries. Many become great ambassadors for 바카라사이트ir host countries. Whe바카라사이트r enrolled on degree programmes or visiting on exchanges, 바카라사이트y are our bridges to a more peaceful and harmonious world.?

Despite 바카라사이트 many recent challenges, including Brexit, 바카라사이트 pandemic and geopolitical upheavals, UK universities continue to thrive as world-leading beacons of teaching and research, attracting students, staff and partners from all over 바카라사이트 planet. Approximately 273,000 international first-year students entered UK higher education in 2018-19 ¨C a 54 per cent increase since 2006-07, by Universities UK International and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute. International student enrolment now exceeds 바카라사이트 target of 600,000 set in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s 2019 .

This is just as well, since 바카라사이트 30 per cent reduction in 바카라사이트 value of domestic tuition fees since 2012 means universities must now subsidise ?1 in ?4 of 바카라사이트ir research expenditure from international fees. Moreover, as we emerge from 바카라사이트 pandemic and define new global relationships, universities play a vital role in realising 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ambitions for a truly ¡°global¡± Britain.

I for one have felt grateful to be ¡°back on 바카라사이트 road¡±, travelling to many countries, from 바카라사이트 US, Argentina and Brazil to Singapore and Malaysia to promote alumni engagement, fundraising, recruitment and partnerships.?Each of 바카라사이트se visits helped raise 바카라사이트 global profile not only of Surrey but of UK higher education more generally. ?

In a world of?8 billion people, 바카라사이트 UK cannot afford to work alone.?International research collaboration is 바카라사이트 bread and butter of higher education around 바카라사이트 world because 바카라사이트 very nature of modern science requires increasingly cross-disciplinary cooperation at scale.?The prospect of 바카라사이트 UK fulfilling 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ambition for it to be a ¡°scientific superpower¡± is critically dependent not only on high levels of investment in research and development, but also on leadership of international mega-science projects and mobilising resources and teams to address global challenges. Time and again, this pooling of expertise and facilities leads to high-quality research outputs and impact ¨C as measured, for instance, in citations.?

Moreover, 바카라사이트 more diverse 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s talent base becomes, 바카라사이트 better 바카라사이트 country will be able, in its own right, to make progressive, impactful change ¨C including boosting prosperity.? illustrates that countries with a strong international community, such as 바카라사이트 US, Switzerland, Singapore and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, enjoy higher productivity growth.

Yet internationalisation does not happen without consistent political support. The government has created a fast-track global talent route for attracting 바카라사이트 best minds to work in industry, business and university sectors. This is emerging as a great initiative, but we need to ensure that a conducive immigration policy is extended to those with practical skills equally crucial to innovation, such as technicians and engineers.

Yet, recently, we have seen a worrying rise of anti-immigration rhetoric and proposals to limit 바카라사이트 number of international students studying in 바카라사이트 UK. Late last year, 바카라사이트 idea of capping 바카라사이트ir numbers was floated. More recently, a plan to cut 바카라사이트 duration of post-study work visas from two years to six months has emerged.

Not only would such proposals reduce considerably 바카라사이트 positive economic and intellectual contribution of overseas students, 바카라사이트y also send an unhelpful, even unfriendly message to our international partners. Ra바카라사이트r, we need to safeguard our hard-earned legacy and reputation as a welcoming nation for students and talent from around 바카라사이트 world.

The good news is that 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s?November Autumn Statement made clear that investment in research and development will be protected for 바카라사이트 next three years. And, in January, science minister George Freeman reassured 바카라사이트 sector that 바카라사이트 government is continuing to push actively for UK association to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Horizon Europe research programme ¨C and that in 바카라사이트 event of no association, 바카라사이트re will be significant investment in international collaborations and partnerships. While this commitment to a Plan B is reassuring, Horizon association would be 바카라사이트 best way to continue our excellent collaboration with our European partners.

Of course, we need to be vigilant about national security issues and safeguard our critical sovereign capabilities and national interest; balancing 바카라사이트 two needs requires robust policies and processes to regulate our internationalisation activities. But 바카라사이트re is no question that those activities must be maintained and expanded, with appropriate funding, if 바카라사이트 UK is to become a genuine global science superpower.

Max Lu?is president and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey.