Source: CBI

The chair of the Russell Group has warned that immigration ¡°rhetoric¡± in the UK is damaging universities¡¯ ability to attract overseas students.

Sir David Eastwood, the University of Birmingham vice-chancellor, part of a delegation to India this week on a government visit, also said that UK universities should focus on ¡°mature, partnership relations¡± overseas rather than simply on student recruitment.

Greg Clark, the universities and science minister, meanwhile said he would use the trip to ¡°clarify some of the misunderstandings¡± about the UK¡¯s immigration policy.

UK universities have seen a dramatic fall in Indian student numbers, which many in the sector attribute to the government¡¯s decision in 2012 to abolish post-study work visas.

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Sir David said that Birmingham had ¡°bucked that trend¡±, with Indian student numbers at the institution ¡°up 5 per cent this year¡±.

But asked if government immigration policy was to blame for the fall in Indian student numbers more generally, Sir David said post-study work visas were an issue ¡°and we need to move towards a more permissive position there¡±.

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¡°In terms of the realities for study, it¡¯s not more difficult to get a visa to study in the UK than, say, in Australia. But we haven¡¯t been helped by some of the rhetoric which surrounds our visa position, as distinct from the reality.¡±

He said that it was also important for UK universities to talk ¡°about partnership, about development¡±, not just recruitment.

Mr Clark was expected to announce collaboration agreements for education and science during the three-day visit, and to give a speech to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry that would ¡°address some of the concerns¡± about government policy.

He told Times Higher Education that stricter visa rules were not an obstacle to post-study work, arguing that Indian students who had found a reasonably paid job would find it ¡°straightforward¡± to stay in the UK.

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¡°There may be a perception that that¡¯s difficult and uncertain, but I want to send a message that they can, with confidence, come and expect to work afterwards,¡± he added.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com