Detailed background investigation
has revealed that all may not be well with UK universities as the much
celebrated fall in net migration is not as a result of good border control, but was
as a result of international students not making UK a choice in their overseas
studies, more so, non EU students from Asia, Africa, and other parts of the
world.
This outcome regarding the continues
decline of foreign students coming to study in the UK is of serious concern for
the Government, which has also brought some kind of split at the top level of
Cabinet.
Thus, UK universities have also
been making complaints about the rapid decline in the attractiveness of the
country’s universities as a destination for non EU foreign students which as a
result of stiff immigration policies and the perceptions potential students and
parents have about post Brexit.
Recall how Mrs May's attempt at a
rapid post-Brexit trade deal in India last Autumn, was mired in disappointment
there about her policies towards Indian students.
Firstly, international students
coming to school in the UK dropped to its lowest level in the quarter to September
2016 since 2002. September is know is usually known to be the most important
period for foreign students. Also, it was a fall of 41,000 on September 2015.
Secondly, deep in the ONS figures
further reveals the following details:
Take south Asia - mainly India,
where there was a high-profile press campaign warning young Indians about a
visa crackdown against what was the fastest growing G20 economy.
Only 7,000 southern Asians were
recorded as arriving for study in the quarter to September 2016.
That was 12,000 in September
2015, 21,000 in September 2016, and five years ago this was 91,000.
The initial fall is due to a
crackdown on bogus colleges by the then Home Secretary, Mrs May. But that has
now fallen off a further cliff.
Astonishingly, the ONS recorded
fewer student arrivals from Commonwealth south Asia, than from central &
South America, (8,000 arrivals in Sep 2016).
It's not just India though.
Worryingly, the Chinese market for our higher education seems to have slumped too
over the past year.
There were 38,000 arrivals from
East Asia in September 2016, down 11,000 from 49,000 in September 2015.
There are also signs of a
noticeable fall in sub Saharan African and North American student migrants.
This is all despite the post-referendum
slump in sterling, which should make UK fees far more competitive.
The EU numbers are down 5,000 too
versus September 2015.
Six thousand fewer EU student
arrivals from the big EU nations, 4,000 from Eastern Europe EU8 (mainly Poland
and the Baltics), but a 4,000 increase in Romanian and Bulgarians arriving for
formal study.
Both the Foreign Secretary and
Chancellor have expressed some public sympathy with the idea of exempting
students from net migration targets.
But Number 10 and the Home Office
are adamant that this would be seen as "fiddling" the figures.
But if these numbers are borne
out, and universities have been telegraphing acute concern, there are easily
enough Conservative MPs to create an issue for the PM.
Taken together with the
uncertainty around post-Brexit funding for research, and some difficulties in
attracting and retaining top international academics, universities fear a
perfect storm for a successful and lucrative British export market.
A promised consultation on
student visa numbers is proceeding very slowly. It will be one to watch as
post-Brexit Britain seeks to send its "going Global" message.
SOURCE: Sky News, February 2017
No comments:
Write comments