.png){kind=logo}
Университетские программы
Подготовительные программы
Стипендии
| Changes to student visas will have ‘devastating’ effect MPs warned |
|
Britain could lose up to £4.8 billion a year if the Government pushes ahead with plans to cut immigration by changes to student visas, university vice-chancellors warn. Senior figures at Universities UK and other leading bodies said that Britain’s reputation for higher education would be devastated if the proposals were implemented unchanged. At a meeting in Parliament, organised by John Denham, the Shadow Business Secretary, they claimed that it could result in a 60 per cent reduction in the number of international students coming to study in Britain — inflicting serious damage on an “export industry” estimated by UUK to be worth £8 billion. There are also concerns that science and technology courses, highly dependent on foreign students, could be forced to close. The issue will be high on the agenda in Westminster today when David Willetts, the Universities Minister, is questioned about it by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. He and Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, are said to be extremely concerned about the impact the proposals could have on Britain’s universities and the wider business community. They were warned of the scale of the problem at a private meeting with vice-chancellors on Tuesday and have been holding talks with home office ministers urging them to consider changes. Nicola Dandridge, the chief executive of UUK, said competitor countries, such as Australia, the US and Canada, were watching with “astonishment” and glee at what British ministers appeared to be planning because it would mean a boost for them. She argued that other countries had reversed similar policies because of the harm caused to higher education. said: “To be damaging such a clearly competitive and successful growth industry appears to me to be madness.” Among those present at the meeting were Ms Dandridge and Steve Smith, the president of UUK, Professor Nigel Thrift, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, that is part of the Russell Group, Professor Paul Wellings, the chairman of the 1994 Group of 19 research-intensive institutions and Professor Les Ebdon CBE, chair of Million+, a high profile university think-tank. Mr Denham argued that student visas were being used not to tackle abuse of the system as had been suggested, but because it was the only way to achieve the Prime Minister’s promise to cut net immigration to “tens of thousands”. The vice-chancellors said that they were particularly worried about proposals to restrict access to pre-degree level courses, because they were the key “pathways” to university for foreign students. There were also fears concerns about plans to bar foreign students unless they pass a tough English test, equivalent to an A level, to restrict opportunities for work and limit the ability to bring in dependents after graduating. Professor Wellings said that the market for international students was worth more to the British economy than the alcoholic drinks industry. “If they start to try to reduce education services as a big part of the economy what are they going to replace it with?” he asked. Professor Thrift said that he did not believe the Government wanted to damage higher education but warned of “unintended consequences”. Many international students “go on to be great scientists and business figures”, he said. “We need them as much as they need us.” Concern about the proposals do not just centre on higher education but in the colleges that offer “pathway” courses. Andrew Thick, the director of Kaplan College, said that raising the language bar so much would stop “the brightest and best” coming to Britain. “I cannot believe the Government wants to do this. They must have miscalculated because the effects are going to be so catastrophic.” A Home Office spokesman said that the criticism was based on “speculation” as no final decisions had been made on changes to the student visa route. But, he added, universities with “genuine students” had nothing to fear, because the policies were about rooting out abuse. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/education/article2932092.ece |
Поиск
Новости
Northumbria University School of Design:Northumbria University School of Design still has some Scholarships available for good design students wanting to study a postgraduate course in January 2012. Time is running out to obtain one ... Среда, 30 Ноября 2011 Подробнее |
Overseas student numbers rise in the UKhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15018449 The number of overseas students coming to the UK has risen dramatically in the past five years. Numbers increased by 32% in the five years to 2010, data from the Higher ... Среда, 23 Ноября 2011 Подробнее |
50% стипендий на программу Foundation в Уважаемые коллеги, Мы рады объявить о появлении новых 50% стипендий на программу Foundation в центре INTO Scotland! Стипендии предоставляются студентам, поступающим на учебные потоки с началом занятий в январе 2012: ... Понедельник, 31 Октября 2011 Подробнее |