Vice Chancellor John Vinney and Pro Vice-Chancellor Sonal Minocha are in India this week from Wednesday 9 December to Friday 11 December as part of a UK ministerial delegation, with aims to raise UK’s higher education profile. BIS Secretary of State Sajid Javid and Minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson, have been joined by a large number of UK University VCs and PVCs, as well as a few other UK HE representatives.
The visit is part of the Government’s commitment to welcome international students, as announced in Osborne’s CSR and Autumn Statement. In addition, ‘India will be one of the most important nations throughout the 21st century, says a British Council report.
However, the UK is failing to compete with other countries in attracting Indian students, as emerging Government policies becomes increasing unwelcoming. The Conversation UK presented a list of ten unwelcoming attitudes to guarantee a nation will become uncompetitive in the global HE landscape. These include: Long, complicated and pricey visa applications; high tuition fees; extra security checks and discriminatory policies for particular countries; media propaganda spurring social concerns towards international students being agents of national and cultural destruction; restrictions to employment during and after studies; and scare tactics on employers allowing international students to work extra hours. The UK has checked many points off the list and more. It is crucial that Government, with the help of universities and industries, work together to facilitate the process and integration of international students as best they can.
Dr Sonal Minocha, our PVC (Global Engagement), calls for developing a sector-wide framework for bilateral academic, research and industry partnerships between the UK and India to shape the next generation of global talent for our nations in a recent Universities UK blog post. She suggests the UK HE sector trained, but somehow failed to retain, the next generation of global Indian talent that would help the UK Plc flourish. Meanwhile, UK universities can help India fulfil its aspirations to become a global hub for talent thanks to the country’s favourable demographics and large HE output. Dr. Minocha emphasises the role that the UK HE sector has to play in communicating the range of opportunities for restoring our relations with India, and more importantly, how these opportunities can and should benefit both countries.
Hobsons Solution recently released a report presenting the views of more than 45,000 prospective international students from over 200 countries, to understand the value they place on an international education. Results reveal that prospective students ranked five criteria as most important in choosing a country to study: quality and recognition; affordability; post-study options; and safety and hospitality. The lack of post-study work options is the leading factor at 36.3% of why students do not choose to study in the UK. The report actually advises UK institutions to send a strong and clear message to government regarding post-study work rights, stating that failure for government to address the economic benefits will result in years of damage.
While there is much that has to be done to ensure that international students continue to see the UK as one of their favourite options, this delegation can only be a positive move in the right direction.
NB: This week’s focus has pulled together information from various Daily Buzzes: links have been provided.