UK Politician, Varsities, Kick Against Ban on Nigerian & International Students

Cursory: A member of the United Kingdom parliament, Carol Monaghan, has condemned the UK’s new immigration policy, which banned international students from bringing family members with them from 2024.

Reacting to the immigration policy that foreign students would be stopped from switching from the student visa route to a work visa until their studies have been completed. at parliament on Wednesday, Carol Monaghan, a member of the United Kingdom parliament, said the students and their families made valuable contributions to the UK, contributing £40 billion to the economy in 2022.

According to the UK lawmaker, the international students enrich the UK society as they have skills, which have proved useful across key sectors.

Monaghan said, “With labour shortages in healthcare, STEM, IT, to name a few, how can the minister fail to recognise that this policy will aggravate these? I’d like to ask the minister, what assessments have been carried out on the economic impact of this change on the university sector?

“The reality is that many students who come into the UK look beyond their studies and want their families to be part of their experience.

“Without a way for overseas students to bring their families, many will opt to go elsewhere and any drop in international students numbers will cause further harm to universities that are already facing financial difficulties.”

Meanwhile, the Universities in the UK have also protested the nation’s new immigration laws. Leaders in the UK’s higher education sector issued a warning about the consequences of the change.

In a story by the Evening Standard, Jamie Arrowsmith, the director of Universities UK International, urged the government to lessen the impact of changes to immigration laws on universities, which were already facing “serious financial pressures.”

He added that the changes to rules on dependants are likely to have a “disproportionate impact on women and students from certain countries”.

“Anything that threatens to affect the UK’s global success as a top destination for international talent needs to be considered very carefully,” Mr Arrowsmith said.

Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), expressed his expectation that Suella Braverman will now approach the Chancellor. “to help universities recoup their losses” following the announcement.

He said, “This is not a wise move because every part of the UK benefits from the presence of international students, and, if they are discouraged from coming to the UK, they won’t stay at home but instead go to our competitors.”

Mr Hillman added, “As a country, we risk cutting off our nose to spite our face. Given that international student fees subsidize the teaching of home students as well as UK research, I hope the Home Secretary will now be lobbying the Chancellor to help universities recoup their losses.”

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, which includes some of the most prestigious universities in the UK, commented on restrictions placed on international students bringing family members to the country., said they were “likely to have a negative impact on universities’ plans to diversify their international student intakes”.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), called the tightening of immigration rules by the Home Office “a vindictive move”.

She said, “It is clear that deep concern is already being felt across the sector as to just how damaging the package of measures announced by the Home Secretary could be to the pipeline of international talent coming to the UK.

“This is another deeply shameful moment for a government hell-bent on attacking migrants and undermining our universities.”

See Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International, Statement:

“International students make an invaluable contribution to our universities and to the UK’s economy. Building on the government’s explicit commitments and ambitions, which were clearly set out in the International Education Strategy, we have seen significant growth since 2019.

“Our research shows that international students make a huge economic contribution to the UK, with a single cohort delivering a total benefit of £41.9 billion. We also know that the public are overwhelmingly supportive of the international students we attract – just 9% of people think we should be discouraging international students from choosing the UK.

“Today’s announcement provides some clarity for students and universities after many months of rumour and speculation, but leaves some questions unanswered. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable growth and to the ambitions set out in the International Education Strategy.

“Confirmation that the Graduate route will remain open and competitive is critically important. Meaning that international students can remain in the UK and work for up to two or three years after completing their studies, gaining experience and helping to address critical skills shortages.

“The rise in the number of dependent visas has been substantial and has likely exceeded planning assumptions in government. We recognise that, in some places, this has led to local challenges around access to suitable family accommodation and schooling, with implications for the student experience. 

“Given this, some targeted measures to mitigate this rise may be reasonable, for example looking at eligibility for particular types of course (such as one-year taught postgraduate programmes) or enhancing the financial assurances that prospective students are required to provide.

“While the vast majority of students will be unaffected by proposals that limit the ability to be accompanied by dependents, more information is needed on the programmes that are in scope before a proper assessment of the impact can be made. Yet we do know that any changes are likely to have a disproportionate impact on women and students from certain countries.

“We therefore urge the government to work with the sector to limit and monitor the impact on particular groups of students – and on universities, which are already under serious financial pressures. The review process that has been announced must consider these issues.

“Ultimately, our collective aim must be to ensure that international students who choose the UK can be confident that they are welcome here, that their contribution is valued, and that the terms on which they have made decisions remain stable. Anything that threatens to affect the UK’s global success as a top destination for international talent needs to be considered very carefully.”

Sources: PUNCH, VANGUARD, UNIVERSITIES UK

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