Are the coalition’s efforts to curb student visa abuse damaging Britain’s economy?
YES
Nicola Dandridge
Government policy to reduce net migration is sending the message that the UK does not welcome genuine international students. It could also damage a profoundly successful UK export – at a time when the UK economy needs growth. Competitor countries, like the US and Australia, are taking active steps to encourage international students and are communicating a very different message. There is growing demand for international higher education and the UK cannot afford to lose its leading position. The UK excels in this area, with 9.9 per cent of the total market share in 2009, and export earnings of £7.9bn. International students also bring significant cultural richness and long-term political and social benefits to the country. Genuine international students should not form part of the government’s immigration targets. Students are not long-term migrants and the vast majority leave after finishing their studies. Nicola Dandridge is chief executive of Universities UK.
NO
Priti Patel
Britain’s businesses and universities should be able to attract the brightest and the best from around the world to work and study in London and throughout the country. But the government must also get to grips with the uncontrolled levels of immigration inherited from Labour and restore public confidence in the immigration system. Action taken to remove abuses in the student visa system, and end the era of bogus colleges, should be welcomed. 116 licences to colleges have been revoked and a further 179 licences suspended. We need foreign students to contribute and study, not come here to seek a backdoor route to live in Britain. There are other reforms needed to address wider immigration problems and this government’s policies to deport more foreign criminals and process asylum applications more quickly will make our country safer and our immigration system fairer.
Priti Patel is Conservative MP for Witham.