International students should be welcomed by government, with a cross-departmental strategy to target growth, consistent and welcoming messaging, a new approach to monitoring numbers and a recognition of the complexity of their educational journey, says a new parliamentary report.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Students opened its inquiry in the summer, with evidence given from across the industry. The report was launched today with co-chairs Lord Bilimoria and Paul Blomfield MP.
Sarah Cooper, chief executive of English UK, welcomed its conclusions. "We can really get behind the very sensible suggestions of this inquiry, both for government and the industry.
"In particular, we'd single out the major recommendations of a cross-departmental strategy to target growth, consistent and welcome messaging around international students and the idea of allowing students to transfer on to different courses here without having to go home to apply again. We also welcome the suggestion that students should be counted but not included in the net migration target, as that sends the wrong message that their numbers should be restricted.
"We hope that this report will help to inform the debate around our post-Brexit immigration regime."
The report's foreword by the co-chairs says: "Having heard all the evidence and considering opportunities and challenges we are recommending that the Government sets a target to grow the number of international students and that this is supported by a cross-departmental strategy.
"We believe the various government departments and the sector should come together to ensure this is done within the next six months. The overall aim of the target and the supporting strategy should be to grasp the opportunities which now present themselves and show the world that the UK is not just open for business but determined to lead the world in this hugely important enterprise.
"Having heard all the evidence and considering opportunities and challenges we are recommending that the Government sets a target to grow the number of international students and that this is supported by a cross-departmental strategy. We believe the various government departments and the sector should come together to ensure this is done within the next six months.
"The overall aim of the target and the supporting strategy should be to grasp the opportunities which now present themselves and show the world that the UK is not just open for business but determined to lead the world in this hugely important enterprise."
Among its wide-ranging recommendations for Government, it suggests:
- A clear and ambitious target to grow international student numbers, supported by a cross-departmental strategy focused on recruitment and the student experience, and an inclusion of education in the trade strategy in bilateral agreements
- Students to be removed from targets to reduce net migration.
- "Clearly-labelled and attractive" post-study work visa offering up to two years of work experience in the UK
- A deal with the EU for unrestricted movement of students and researchers
- "Urgent clarity" for EU nationals currently studying and researching in the UK on changes to visa and funding rights.
- A review by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration of credibility interviews within the student immigration interviews, to ensure they are fit for purpose
- Immigration rules to facilitate and encourage students to study in the UK and at multiple study levels
- Promotion and protection of the diversity of the UK education offer, including smaller, specialist, vocational and FE providers
The report also suggests that the sector and government should co-operate on welcoming messages for international students, the creation of an international graduate and alumni strategy, with local government, businesses and education institutions working together to attract, support and integrate international students.
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