Written evidence submitted by Newcastle
University Students Union (SV48)
Newcastle University Students' Union believes that
the proposed changes to the international student immigration
rules would be damaging for the education sector of the United
Kingdom. Not only would it fail to reduce the immigration problems
that the country faces, but it would reduce the quality of the
education for the future years. The government has a vision to
reduce the number of international immigrants working in the UK,
but alongside this they would reduce the number of highly skilled
personnel in the country, dropping the efficiency of the companies
and Industries in the UK when compared to the world. It would
also reduce the amount of international investments into the British
Economy, and would create a bad image and hostility for the Nation
in the International community, and pass a wrong message about
the United Kingdom to the World.
- 1. It is understood that there is great misuse
of the migration system with the existence of the "Bogus"
colleges and institutions leading to illegal immigration, which
pose a threat to the whole system and forms a great reason for
the Government to want to have cuts in the numbers. It is strongly
believed that hence the new Immigration rules should not greatly
affect students who are studying on degree level courses or higher.
It is also believed that the New Visa Application system that
has come into place does recognize the threat to Illegal immigration
through this passage of bogus institutions and the new system
of classifying the Institutions into "Trusted" and "highly-trusted"
institutions could be further enhanced to stop illegal immigration
which would help curb the issue.
- 2. The United Kingdom has over 100,000 Non-UK
EU students and over 250,000 Non-EU Students, with a total number
of international students resulting into over 350,000. There is
no doubt that when a student comes to another country for education,
it is not just education he deals with, but enters into a cultural
exchange, and many of these international students, then become
brand ambassadors of the United Kingdom when they return home.
This greatly enhances the image of the United Kingdom in almost
all the corners of the world where from these students come from.
- 3. Taking a step to restrict, curb or end
this restricted, yet free passage of knowledge and cultural exchange
would lead to a negative image of the United Kingdom to the World,
and pass on a wrong image. We feel that the United Kingdom has
a strong education sector, which should still be made accessible
to the International Students. Out of the total international
students, about 45,000 students are postgraduate research students,
which make up over 40% of research postgraduates in the UK, from
whom the universities benefit in their ongoing research, raising
the standards of the UK Higher Education. International Students
also make up over 40% of the postgraduate students and 10% of
the first degree students.[68]
- 4. Not only would all this lead to a negative
image of the UK to the world, it would at the same time bring
about a negative attitude in the industry, where in the highly
qualified graduates might not want to work in the UK. The image
that would come about would be of the UK "using" the
highly qualified graduate just because they need them, and in
due course of time, they might take a step further to cut down
on their existent numbers because they've got their own. The sense
of peacefulness would be replaced by the sense of instability
and non- security.
- 5. The United Kingdom is able to attract
this amount of international students because of what it offers
to them, quality education, and a chance to explore a different
and interesting culture, ability to interact with people from
all over the world, all just by choosing to spend important years
of their life in here. The decision to come to the UK is not easy
for many from outside the European Union, due to the financial
implications that it might put them up on. But again, in the package
that the UK offers as a top education provider to these students
also includes a two year Post Study World Visa (PSW) at the end
of the degree. This further gives them a chance to experience
working in the United Kingdom, but also makes them better employable
when they return back to their respective countries. The committee
should be aware of how the exchange rates work, and the direct
implication cost to a student, for e.g. from China, for whom the
implication is 10 time the cost in GBP, or from India, for whom
the cost is 70 times the cost in his home currency. The Committee
should also note that the two years extension allows the international
student to earn back a part of what he is spending, which has
huge international implications.
- 6. Not all students coming to the UK are
well off, and often take loans to live a dream that the UK has
promised them. Many people have been able to make the decision
only and only because of the reason that the UK has promised to
give them a PSW, and if they fail to do so, then there would not
be much difference between the bogus institutions and the Honorary
HM Government. Hence it is strongly felt that the PSW should continue
to exist, and if the government does plan to cancel the PSW, it
should still be made available to all the students who have been
granted student visas which entitles them to a PSW as per the
present rules, i.e. all the students who are on valid full time
degree or higher level courses.
- 7. Also, it should be noted that the undergraduate
or first degree international students, should in no way be penalized
by the British Government for choosing the UK as the destination
of their 1st degree. With average fees between £9,000-13,000,
added to the high living costs in the UK, each of these students
invest about £15,000-£20,000 per annum, amounting to
£45,000-£60,000(the highest amounts being for the Science
and engineering related courses) in three years time, with no
estimate of students spending on a four years integrated masters
courses. It would not be fair that the UK asks these students
to leave as soon as they complete education as for it will leave
them under a heavy financial burden. Unlike the UK, other countries
do not give student loans for lifetime, and often have time limits
(up to 10 years maximum generally) to clear their debts. The HM
Government must therefore understand the need of their support
to these students, who have invested their career into the trust
they have had had on the UK, and have come so far away from their
homes with a hope to make a successful career. Hence it is urged
that the Government do not take such steps, which might make these
students feel that they committed the biggest mistakes of their
life.
- 8. The UK would hence greatly damage its
reputation worldwide, and this damage at this point of time would
be irreparable with many countries starting to offer a quality
education. It would eventually lead to deterioration of the education
quality in the UK. Here the HM Government must understand that
by taking these measures, it is damaging one of the strongest
pillars that are supporting the nation. It should not be forgotten
that the UK is not agriculture based, is not a manufacturing country,
nor does it have a huge service sector. One of the strongest links
it has is the Education sector, which in turn increases the income
of the country as people who come to study contribute to the society.
With this in mind it would be wrong to see international students
as cash cows, and to kick them out once the government stops to
earn from them.
- 9. The Government can however make free decision
on the status of the PSW for students who would be coming after
the change of regulations, and let the student decide if he wishes
to come to the UK when he would no longer be given a PSW, it would
be a matter of free will. However, as highlighted earlier, the
Government should not take a hasty step and cancel the PSW for
the students who have been given a visa under the present two
year extension scheme.
- 10. The previously mentioned numbers should
be noted by the committee, and if not sure should try to launch
a study to find out how many of the students would have come here
to study if there was no PSW, and should foresee those numbers
as missing from the University records of their statistical and
financial ledgers, and see for themselves where they would then
stand in the world, and what part of the "Great Nation"
image would be left in people's minds.
- 11. With an expected fall in home student
numbers following an increase in the fee, and the resultant loss
of international students, it would end up being very difficult
for such great universities and so many of these universities
to be able to provide any kind of quality education at all. The
Education sector in many countries is now becoming more attractive
as their quality of education is getting better and better. This
would result in a great shift of students to other countries.
The choice for these students continue to increase and diverge
as many non-English speaking countries are now starting to provide
education in English, in the European Union, Germany, Russia,
South America or China! These decisions would only lead to an
end of the UK Education sector.
- 12. Newcastle University is currently a community
of about 3,000 International Students from 110 Countries from
a total student number of about 20,000, which is about 15% of
the student body at the University, which plays an active role
in promoting the university as a World Class Institution. At the
moment, the University earns about 28% of the total revenue with
15% of the total student body, which shows the amount of impact
that the international community creates in the whole system.[69]
January 2011
68 UKCISA Higher Education Statistics-www.ukcisa.org.uk/about/statistics_he.php Back
69
Newcastle University Financial Statements 2009-2010, page 10-Student
Numbers, page 18-Income
www.ncl.ac.uk/documents/financialstatement10.pdf Back
|
