UK's ban on foreign students, is "economic self-harm" - universities warn

Universities in the United Kingdom have  warned the government of Prime Minister Theresa May not to implement a plan to cut by half the number of foreign students allowed into Britain.

They said the policy would amount to  “economic self-harm”.

According to the Evening Standard, leading universities such as UCL, King’s College and the London School of Economics said they were “hugely concerned” over a proposal to almost halve the number coming from overseas to reduce immigration figures.

In a joint letter to the newspaper, they called on ministers to stop treating students as a “soft target” in the row over immigration and to demonstrate that they are welcome instead.

Reports this month suggested the Home Office was considering cutting the number of international students from 300,000 to 170,000 under tougher new visa rules. Home Secretary Amber Rudd told the Conservative Party conference in October that she wanted to clamp down on those who are taking “lower quality” university courses.

The number of foreign students travelling to the UK over the past year has dropped by 30,000, delivering a blow to London’s university sector, which relies on the higher fees they pay.

Mark Hilton of business group London First — which gathered the signatories from among its membership — said international students contributed a huge amount to the UK economy.

According to Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, they generate more than £10.7 billion a year, including £2.3 billion in London.

Mr Hilton said: “Government shouldn’t be considering any options to halve their numbers — that would be economic self-harm for the UK and could do serious, long-term damage to our global standing.

“Instead [ministers] should be building on one of the great UK export successes of higher education.”

Signatories to the letter also include City University, the University of East London, the University of Westminster and the Royal College of Art. They wrote: “Our international students… help fund our education system, create jobs, share their cultures and build long-term, valuable links to the UK. So it is hugely concerning to read reports of government plans to halve international student numbers.”

The universities added: “We urge Government to stop looking for a soft target in the debate about immigration targets and instead demonstrate we remain open to talented people.”

Also putting their names to the letter were University of West London,  construction firm Mace, the Southbank Centre and international law firm  Berwin Leighton Paisner.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Claims the Home Office is modelling cuts to reduce international students are categorically untrue. We want to strengthen the system to support our best universities — and those that stick to the rules — to attract the best talent.

But he added: “At the same time we must make sure that what we offer brings real benefits to this country.”

The Home Office said there was an eight per cent fall in further education applications and a nine per cent fall in English Language applications in the year to September but visa applications for the leading Russell Group of universities were up by six per cent.NAN