Proposal to limit overseas students under fire
SCOTTISH universities have called on the UK Government to stop “punishing” the sector for its international exports.
Figures show that the value of international exports from Scotland’s university sector stand at £444 million based on the direct fee income from international students alone.
In addition, the off-campus expenditure of international students adds another £488m to Scotland’s economy every year.
This makes universities Scotland’s 12th-largest sector for international exports when compared with export data held by the Scottish Government.
However, Universities Scotland said the the UK Government was preparing to put higher education export income and economic contribution at risk with a forthcoming consultation exercise that could propose limits on international students.
The consultation could also include proposals to differentiate between universities for the first time allowing some to recruit international students whilst placing limits on others.
Professor Andrea Nolan, convener of Universities Scotland, said: “University exports have been a success story and the UK Government should be looking to promote higher education, not punish it with the introduction of limits on student numbers or limits on some institutions.
“International students contribute so much economically, socially and culturally to Scotland yet all of this is at risk if the UK Government decides to cut numbers and make Scottish and UK universities anti-competitive on the world-stage.
“Higher education has the quality and reputation it takes to be successful in our international exports, but the policy environment we operate in is already holding us back.”
The UK Government’s consultation, which is expected to be launched in January, will look to change current student immigration policy by differentiating between universities for the first time and limiting the activities of some.