Student visa plans will put UK economy at risk, warns new report

UCU today warned that government plans to restrict the number of students and academics allowed to enter the country would damage the UK's international reputation for education excellence and harm the economy.
 
The union's comments come as a new report says the government's 'fragmented approach' to international higher education and its plans for restricting immigration could hit the UK's ability to compete on the global stage.
 
The report, entitled International Higher Education: Missing an opportunity?, highlights the fact that the UK has the highest market share of international students outside of the US and calls on the government to provide greater financial investment so UK universities can continue to forge partnerships with overseas institutions. The report warns that many of the current funding streams for projects, such as the UK-India Education and Research Initiative, are due to come to an end.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The government's student visa plans are short-sighted and risk sending out the worrying message that the UK is closed for business. The UK remains one of the most popular destinations for foreign students because of our proud international reputation for excellence. However, we cannot trade on reputation alone and we need to be able to continue to offer places to the world's brightest and best.
 
'Foreign students bring in billions of pounds to the economy every year, but the benefits are not merely financial. UK students profit enormously from exchange programmes with foreign universities and also through mixing with, and working alongside, foreign students studying over here.'