The UK government must make clear to international students
in the next few weeks that they can still have confidence in
studying at UK universities, otherwise the UK risks losing them
to overseas competitors.
Universities in the
UK are starting to make announcements about what
the return to university will look like in autumn 2020
and how they will be delivering high-quality teaching, student
support services and social opportunities.
Many institutions have announced a
blended approach, combining face-to-face learning for
small seminars and tutorials with online provision for
lectures. Earlier this
week, Universities UK set
out high-level principles setting
out how universities can plan to emerge from
lockdown, delivering face-to-face teaching
where possible, while ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing
of students, staff, visitors and the wider
community.
Undecided applicants from overseas are currently in the
final stages of deciding where to study in the autumn, with
reports showing many are indecisive about their study
plans.
Now Universities UK is calling on government to take action
to ensure the visa system allows for flexible and blended
approaches to teaching this autumn, which will be necessary in
order to maintain social distancing and safety on
campuses.
As a result, UUK is asking government to;
-
Reassure applicants that online study will not disqualify
students from the new Graduate
Route – which gives students post-study working
opportunities in the UK – to be introduced in 2021
-
Ensure students can start courses online with confidence
by extending the visa application window from three months to
six months
-
Extend rules allowing Tier 4 students to study partially
online, to allow for the blended approach being planned by
universities
Today, Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Exeter, has been named by the Department for
International Trade as the new International Education Champion.
Professor Sir Steve Smith will play a key role in leading the UK
sector’s efforts to offer the world’s best student experience,
and to communicate it internationally. This includes tackling
barriers to education exports, and the need to offer an open and
welcoming message to overseas students.
Professor Julia
Buckingham, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of
Brunel University, London, said: “We
have a short window to convince undecided applicants that they
can plan with confidence to study in the UK this autumn. This
needs action by government as well as universities.
“It is
excellent news that the UK Government has confirmed the Graduate
Route will be in place by summer 2021, and that visa application
centres are starting to reopen. Universities are now sharing
plans setting out how they will welcome students this autumn,
combining face-to-face teaching where possible with online
delivery to ensure students are safe.
Yet changes to the visa system
to keep pace with the changes to teaching are now urgent. This is
important for students who might be reserving final judgments
about whether to come to the UK or not in the
autumn.
“The
appointment of Professor Sir Steve Smith as International
Education Champion is fantastic news for the sector and we
believe he can play a key role in emphasising to government the
need for action. His understanding of and relationships with
overseas markets will be critically important in helping to
develop these strong international relationships, which are more
important now than ever.
“International students contribute so much to the UK
campuses as well as the economy. Prospective students can be
assured that the top priority for our universities is
ensuring the
health, safety and wellbeing of all students and staff in the new
academic year. Now assurances must be given that new
ways of learning will not penalise them now or in the
future.”
Ends
Notes
-
UUKi’s document ‘Kickstarting the recovery for
international student recruitment: what do we need from
government?’ can be read in full here
-
A list of UK universities along with their method
of teaching for autumn 2020 can be
found here
-
Education is an export sector
of growing importance
to the UK with the higher
education alone generating more than £13 billion of export
revenue in 2016, an increase of 41% since 2010
-
UK visa
centres are now reopening in mainland
China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand,
Australia, and Fiji
