Written evidence Memorandum submitted
by million+ (SV57)
The international activities of UK universities
represent an important success story.
Universities across the UK higher education sector are engaged
in a diverse range of successful and long-standing international
activities. They currently teach over 350,000 international students
in the UK and many more students studying in their home countries,[109]
employ international staff who contribute to the knowledge and
research base of the United Kingdom; work with international universities
and business on collaborative research projects, work with overseas
partners to transfer knowledge and expertise for financial benefit
and to build capacity in developing countries. These activities
are all parts of the UK's international education brand which
has a strong reputation for quality around the world.
Universities and their international activities—including
the teaching of international students - will play a key role
in helping to deliver economic growth and UK's global competitiveness
agendas. Income from teaching-related
international activities alone represent one of the UK's fastest
growing sources of export earnings and the contribution of international
students to the UK economy via fees and living expenses was estimated
at £5.3 billion in 2009. In turn this investment supports
and generates significant employment and economic growth. The
presence of international students makes some courses such as
engineering and chemistry that have been identified as strategically
important to the UK viable. International students also bring
greater diversity and a broader range of experience to UK campuses
and help foster the growth and development of links between the
UK and overseas nations.
The Government has indicated that it is interested
in the economic value of the international activities undertaken
by UK universities. In September 2010,
the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) commissioned
London Economics to establish a comprehensive estimate of the
current total value of overseas trade and investment due to the
UK Higher and Further Education sectors (including teaching, research,
English language training and other training for adults, as well
as businesses providing services to these sectors) and an estimate
of the total value of the foreign direct investment that those
sectors attract. The Government recognises that these international
activities increase the UK's influence on the world stage and
provide opportunities to attract revenue from overseas.[110]
Yet the proposed Tier 4 immigration changes risk
significantly endangering the vital flow of international students
to UK universities and have the potential to damage UK export
earnings and the UK's global competitiveness. This brief written
submission addresses three of the Tier 4 related issues that Home
Affairs Committee is considering: sub-degree level programmes;
progression by international students; and the post-study work
route.
1. There should be no blanket restrictions
on applications for programmes below degree level but sub-degree
level courses should be restricted to Highly Trusted Sponsor (HTS)
institutions
A blanket restriction on applications for entry by
international students to programmes below degree level would
be highly undesirable. Many UK universities work with partner
colleges to provide "sub-degree" level courses for international
students that act as a stepping stone towards the successful completion
of a full university degree. It is therefore vital that study
"below degree" level continues to be permitted and that
partnership institutions can continue to work with HTS institutions.
Restricting sub-degree level courses to HTS institutions
would help ensure that genuine international students receive
a quality education in the UK in institutions in which sound and
consistent audit/inspection systems and publicly accountable quality
assurance regimes are in place. The UK Border Agency should be
more efficient and effective in processing of applications for
HTS, the management of the HTS systems and the status and working
of institutions in relation to HTS.
2. Students wishing to study a new course
should not be required to return home and apply from overseas
The current practice which allows international students
to progress from one programme to another within the UK should
be retained. Any requirement for international students studying
at HTS institutions to return home and apply from overseas would
dramatically decrease the likelihood of highly qualified international
students returning to the UK to study.
In order to prevent misuse of the system, this should
be limited to particular circumstances:
- (i) Students who successfully complete one
course and progress to a new course within a defined period of
time, for example, a student completing an undergraduate course
and progressing to a postgraduate degree commencing within four
months of first degree completion.
- (ii) Students who are dissatisfied with their
course and/or institution: a student who would like to study a
different course in the same institution or another should be
allowed to switch to another sponsor or the same rated licence
or above.
3. The post-study work route should not be
discontinued
The Post Study Work (PSW) route started with the
Prime Minister's Initiative after 1998 and it has contributed
to Britain becoming the second most attractive destination for
international students after the USA. It is beneficial to business
and the UK economy as a whole: graduates who have experienced
working for UK businesses are more likely to regard UK business
favourably and place orders or work with UK companies In the future.
Closure of PSW would also have a significant impact
on the number of international students studying at UK universities
and would put the UK at a disadvantage compared to its other HE
competitors. Universities are already receiving reports from their
Regional Offices that applicants are considering applying to universities
in Canada and New Zealand for next year because they have adopted
PSW policies. China Nursing Fund has advised that their members
have started to consider countries other than UK as a result of
the UK government's proposals to end PSW.
It would be much more effective if the Home Office/UKBA
restricting the route to graduates from HTS institutions and considered
how they could improve controls to ensure students leave the UK
after completion of PSW rather than end the PSW route.
February 2011
109 In 2008-09, Million+ member institutions recruited
over 54,000 students who study wholly outside the UK (21% in the
EU) according to HESA data. They also recruited over 74,000 international
students to study in the UK (including over 50,000 non-EU students). Back
110
BIS (2010) "Estimating the value to the UK of international
education partnerships in higher and further education and research:
call for expressions of interest". Department for Business,
Innovation & Skills, 2010. Back
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