Vice-chancellors are warning the UK government that another U-turn ¨C this time on international student recruitment ¨C would be a ¡°retrograde step¡±.

Universities UK said any change in policy on growing international student recruitment could result in billions of pounds in lost revenue, wreck the government¡¯s growth plan and damage local economies.

Earlier this year, the government celebrated reaching its own target of recruiting 600,000 international students ahead of schedule ¨C but recent comments from the home secretary have suggested a shift back towards greater controls on immigration.

Suella Braverman?recently said?family members were ¡°piggybacking¡± on student visas, and were ¡°not contributing to growing our economy¡±.

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UUK?has now called for the home secretary to retract these remarks, and to reaffirm the centrality of international students and their dependents to the government¡¯s plans for the economic future of the UK.

¡°For a government focused on growth, to try to reduce the appeal to international students would be bizarre, especially when you consider that they contribute nearly ?26 billion to the UK economy ¨C and that this is spread throughout all parts of the UK,¡± said Vivienne Stern, UUK¡¯s chief executive.

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¡°It is even more bizarre when recent growth in international student numbers has been a direct result of pro-growth government policies and visa changes. We strongly urge the government not to take such a retrograde step.¡±

Research from the Higher Education Policy Institute, in conjunction with UUK, claims that international students make a net positive contribution of about ?26 billion to the UK economy.

UUK said the financial contribution of international students would be central to the government¡¯s growth strategy, which aims to expand education exports to ?35 billion by 2030.

Academics from abroad also bring immeasurable social and cultural benefit to communities across the UK, it added.

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¡°The fact that so many international students chose to study in the UK is a real success story, and the UK benefits in many ways from hosting them,¡± said Ms Stern.

¡°International students contribute to the UK¡¯s global connections in trade, politics and in research, and they make an enormous economic contribution too.¡±

A ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Office spokesperson said: ¡°Our points-based immigration system ensures we have the skills and talent we need to support and grow our economy, while also encouraging businesses to invest in British people.¡±

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com