Impakter
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Literature
    • Music
    • Photography
  • Style
    • Architecture
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Foodscape
    • Lifestyle
  • Society
    • Business
    • Environment
    • Foreign Affairs & Politics
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Science
    • Start-up
  • Impact
    • Eco Life
    • Circular Economy
    • COP26
    • CityLife
      • Copenhagen
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • Sydney
    • Sustainability Series
      • SDGs Series
      • Shape Your Future
      • 2030: Dream or Reality
    • Philanthropy
      • United Nations
      • NGO & Charities
      • Essays
    • Your Voice
      • Empower Earth
      • Empower Equality
  • SUSTAINABILITY INDEX
  • Partners
  • About
    • Team
    • Global Leaders
    • Contributors
    • Write for Impakter
    • IMPAKTER Italy
    • Republishing Content
    • Permissions and Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Literature
    • Music
    • Photography
  • Style
    • Architecture
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Foodscape
    • Lifestyle
  • Society
    • Business
    • Environment
    • Foreign Affairs & Politics
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Science
    • Start-up
  • Impact
    • Eco Life
    • Circular Economy
    • COP26
    • CityLife
      • Copenhagen
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • Sydney
    • Sustainability Series
      • SDGs Series
      • Shape Your Future
      • 2030: Dream or Reality
    • Philanthropy
      • United Nations
      • NGO & Charities
      • Essays
    • Your Voice
      • Empower Earth
      • Empower Equality
  • SUSTAINABILITY INDEX
  • Partners
  • About
    • Team
    • Global Leaders
    • Contributors
    • Write for Impakter
    • IMPAKTER Italy
    • Republishing Content
    • Permissions and Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Impakter
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

UK Universities in Trouble if Misguided Education Policy Is Carried Out

In an effort to reduce soaring migration statistics, the UK’s Prime Minister is now considering restrictions to reduce the number of international students and dependents in Britain

byGrace Smith
November 28, 2022
in Education, Politics & Foreign Affairs, Society
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As a new tactic to reduce migration, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering restricting the number of international students coming to the UK, often accompanied by their dependents, to study “low quality” degrees.

The suggestion has been poorly received by many advisers and previous education ministers, who fear that without the funding provided by overseas students, many higher educational institutes will quickly fall into bankruptcy.

This news follows the vow made by Sunak in the summer, during his run against Liz Truss for the position of Prime Minister, that he would phase out university degrees with the lowest “earning potential.” 

Sunak added that he would assess the value of degrees based on their drop-out rates and numbers in graduate jobs with the aim of forging a new, more streamlined, system intended to create “parity of esteem between vocational and academic education.”

It seems this new idea of curbing foreign students in the UK has come as the product of these plans to phase out “low quality” degrees, combined with Sunak’s goal of bringing net immigration levels down.

International students are worth £28.8 billion to the UK and as a HEPI analysis found last year, all parts of the UK are financially better off—on average by £390 per person—because of international students. And then there’s their soft power and so much more. But: dog whistle… https://t.co/gzEjjGs8V9

— Prof Tanja Bueltmann (@TanjaBueltmann) November 24, 2022

Despite Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s pledge to bring net immigration down into the tens of thousands, and to the dismay of the many who voted for Brexit to reduce immigration, the net migration in the UK climbed to a record 504,000 this year. 

This net migration figure, calculated by subtracting the number of emigrants from the number of immigrants, is an increase of around 190% from the net of 173,000 last year.

This comes in large part as a product of the recent “unprecedented” global events including the Chinese security clampdown in Hong Kong, the lifting of COVID-19 lockdowns, and the Russo-Ukraine war.

The largest proportion of this year’s migrants though, were students.

There has been an increase of immigrants entering on study visas of around 90% this year, from 143,000 in the 2020-21 academic year, to 277,000 in the year ending June 2022.

These 277,000 students play a vital role in financing Britain’s higher education system. 

Although international students only made up 22% of UK universities in 2020-2021, they paid 42.4% of the total tuition fees, subsidising the courses of many British students that are provided at a loss to the university.


Related Articles: Sunak’s First Week: What’s Happened to the UK’s Environmental Policy? | Can the UK’s New Prime Minister Reverse Truss’ ‘Attack on Nature’?

In light of this reliance on foreign financing, Professor Brian Bell, Chair of the government’s Migration Advisory Committee, has expressed his concerns that Sunak’s idea could “send many universities over the edge” and potentially result in a “massive increase” in the fees paid by British students.

David Willetts, Conservative Party politician and member of the House of Lords, echoes these sentiments and cautions that imposing restrictions on international students would “risk undermining the financial viability of Britain’s higher education sector,” one of the country’s few globally competitive areas.

In fact, according to Willetts this change could provoke consequences that are felt far beyond the educational sector, destabilising the future of the UK economy as a whole.

What international students bring to UK society

It is important to stress that the richness that foreign students bring with them is not simply financial. 

As Michael Spence, president and provost of UCL, says, international students, most of whom now come from India, China, and Nigeria, “also bring fresh ideas, a diverse cultural and social perspective and extensive global networks, which benefit UK students.”

Foreign students are NOT the problem. They boost UK economy with their fees & skills – reducing them to ‘migrant crisis’ is despicable. We should be honoured they want to study here.

I’ve never seen a country so intent on its own self destruction as the UK under Tory leadership pic.twitter.com/hx64BR5hnv

— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) November 25, 2022

This new debate, as well as Sunak’s recent vow to keep the ban on onshore wind farms, has led to an increase in opposition to the Tory leader, most notably within his own party. 

The Prime Minister’s priorities have been under heightened scrutiny following his COP27 address on climate change which appeared “tepid,” particularly when compared to his conversations earlier in the day surrounding migration.

Whether Sunak will risk a potential rebellion by proceeding with these restrictions on international students is dubious.

However, by declining to define the “low quality” degrees that will be particularly focussed on within the policy, the Prime Minister has left room for the enforcement of a watered-down version.

In any event, Sunak’s divisive priority list will be further revealed by whether he chooses to take this action against international students, or whether he opts to listen to the senior members of his party cautioning him against this decision that could carry disastrous consequences for Britain’s educational system.


Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Featured Photo: Rishi Sunak signing the devolution deal of West Yorkshire. Featured Photo Credit: HM Treasury.

Tags: International studentsMigrationRishi SunakUK migrationUniversities
Previous Post

Eco Friendly Christmas: 3 hacks for a zero waste festivity

Next Post

We Have to Start Now: Interview With Pharmacist and Animal Protection Activist Hermann Rohlfs

Grace Smith

Grace Smith

Grace is an editorial intern based in Manchester. She recently graduated from the University of Birmingham where she studied Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences, double majoring in English Literature and Spanish. Grace most enjoys writing about art, history, literature, and the environment. Outside of work she spends her time painting, crocheting, and tending to her balcony ‘garden’.

Related Posts

The Fossil Fuel Industry’s Anti-Climate Formula: ‘Deny, Deceive, Delay’
Climate Change

The Fossil Fuel Industry’s Anti-Climate Formula: ‘Deny, Deceive, Delay’

January 26, 2023
big tech layoffs
Business

Big Tech Layoffs: Has the Bubble Burst?

January 26, 2023
Bird Flu is Making Your Weekly Food Shop More Egg-Spensive
Agriculture

Bird Flu is Making Your Weekly Food Shop More Egg-Spensive

January 25, 2023
Next Post
Hermann Rohlfs

We Have to Start Now: Interview With Pharmacist and Animal Protection Activist Hermann Rohlfs

Recent News

The Fossil Fuel Industry’s Anti-Climate Formula: ‘Deny, Deceive, Delay’

The Fossil Fuel Industry’s Anti-Climate Formula: ‘Deny, Deceive, Delay’

January 26, 2023
big tech layoffs

Big Tech Layoffs: Has the Bubble Burst?

January 26, 2023
Bird Flu is Making Your Weekly Food Shop More Egg-Spensive

Bird Flu is Making Your Weekly Food Shop More Egg-Spensive

January 25, 2023
impakter-logo-light

Impakter informs you through the eco news site and empowers your sustainable lifestyle with its eco products marketplace.

Visit here IMPAKTER ECO for your eco products needs.

Registered Office Address

32 Lots Road, London
SW10 0QJ, United Kingdom


IMPAKTER Limited

Company number: 10806931

Impakter is a publication that is identified by the following International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is the following 2515-9569 (Printed) and 2515-9577 (online – Website).


Office Hours - Monday to Friday

9.30am - 5.00pm CEST


Email

stories [at] impakter.com

About Us

  • Team
  • Contributors
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partners

By Audience

  • Lifestyle
  • Green Finance
  • Culture
  • Society
  • Style
  • Impact

Impakter Platforms

  • Media
  • Index

© 2023 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • ECO Products Shop – Try now!
  • Culture
  • Style
  • Society
  • Impact
  • Sustainability Index
  • About
    • Partners
    • Team
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

© 2023 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

Impakter.com uses cookies to enhance your experience when visiting the website and to serve you with advertisements that might interest you. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.