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FT editor Roula Khalaf has chosen her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
The author is Chancellor and Chancellor of University College London
Over the past few days, we have witnessed the creation of a strong coalition of support for international students and the tremendous value they bring to the UK. From the Immigration Advisory Council, the independent body that advises the government, to business leaders and local communities, the message is clear. The government's restriction of these students' right to stay is an extraordinary act of national self-harm. After graduating, I will stay in the UK for two years.
That would also be bad politics, as Survation's new poll finds. The majority of voters believe that reducing student numbers is the wrong immigration priority for the UK and understand the important economic contribution that international students make to this country. They recognize that many students return home and only about a third stay here using graduate visas. They know that international students revitalize businesses and communities. Modeling by consultancy London Economics shows that a single cohort would deliver a net economic benefit of £37bn to the UK economy.
The survey revealed an important consensus. 57% of people think illegal immigration should be prioritized, with a further majority (66%) saying post-study visas should allow foreign graduates to work in the UK, subject to two conditions I believe. Several years or more.
Only 2% think restricting students' ability to stay in the UK to work after their studies is a good way to deal with rising immigration, and just 1% want the government to focus on reducing international student numbers (45% say preventing small boat arrivals should be a priority).
There is a wealth of data explaining the economic benefits and contributions of international students. This research shows that the British public understands this better than politicians give them credit for. They also understand that they are not taking the place of their sons and daughters who want to go to university, and that additional tuition income abroad can help fund them on their behalf.
But I think it's the individual stories that reveal the broader impact. We have amazing alumni. Udit Singhal came to UCL in 2020 to study business science in order to develop his business, Glass2Sand, which he came up with at the age of 16 to turn glass bottles into building materials.. As of last year, Glass2Sand has removed 270,000 kilograms of carbon from the atmosphere. Udit was recently included in Forbes India's “30 Under 30'' list and was named a Young Leader for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Examples like this demonstrate that the value of international students far outweighs the economic benefits to our institutions and our economy as a whole.
And here, international students make connections that last far beyond their studies. This enriches the experience of our home students, brings to life the cultural and social fabric of our communities and strengthens Britain's position on the world stage. If restrictions are introduced on the freedom of international students to stay and work here after completing their degree, the experiences and opportunities for British students will also be reduced.
We must not lose sight of this human perspective. I came to this country as an international student and am married to someone who did the same, so I know something of the courage it takes to study abroad, thousands of miles from family, embrace a new culture and make new friends.
Domestic students, businesses and of course universities in the UK benefit from international students being able to stay for a period of time to find work after their studies. And to enable this, universities need to recruit these international students and show them that the UK is a welcome place to study, find a community of friends and intellectuals, and carry out research. Restrictions already in place, such as the right for postgraduate students to bring family members to the UK, are having an impact on this reception, as evidenced by the hard data that applications are falling across the sector.
The damage is not irreversible, but it is still damage. As the Prime Minister considers how to respond to the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee, there is a clear position of public opinion and the positive contribution that international students have made and will continue to make. We ask you to consider the weight of the evidence.
If that endowment is cut, all the losses will be ours, and the winners will be the many other countries eager to open their doors to the students who currently choose to come here. It will be.
