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11 Mar 2011 09:57:46
The University of Bedfordshire’s Vice Chancellor has warned that the Government’s fragmented approach to international higher education and proposed changes to immigration policy risk damaging a key global market for the UK.
Professor Les Ebdon CBE, speaking as chair of the university think-tank million+, said that the Government should set out a comprehensive strategy for international higher education in the forthcoming Higher Education White Paper.
Million+ launched a report today (Friday, 11 March), International Higher Education: Missing an Opportunity?, ahead of a keynote speech by Universities Minister David Willetts at the ‘Going Global’ conference in Hong Kong.
Professor Ebdon, who is in Hong Kong for the conference, said: “The international activities of UK universities represent a hugely important success story. Export earnings from these activities were estimated at £5.3bn in 2009. At a time of economic difficulties this is a sector of the UK economy that has the potential to expand.
“Here at Bedfordshire, a third of our students are international and they make a huge contribution to the local economy.
“Rather than capitalising on this success, the UK Government risks missing an opportunity. Government policy is at best fragmented and at worse, deeply damaging. This is especially true of the proposed changes to immigration policy and student and skilled migrant visa regulations which will significantly undermine the UK’s global competitiveness in higher education.
“Here at the ‘Going Global’ conference, countries are jostling to promote their universities. It is vital that David Willetts spells out that the UK is open for business. I want to hear that the Government is ready to export our higher education success and eager to import the talent of the future.”
Click here for a summary of the report.
Latest news» 2011» March» Fragmented approach could damage the UK warns Vice Chancellor
