Highlighting “value” of international students crucial for UK sector
While highlighting that only 10% of the international graduates “remain indefinitely” in the UK, Rupert Daniels, director, services and skills at the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, shared that international students provide significant economic value, which needs greater public recognition.
“Look at the positive economic contributions of students. [Of the] £28 billion amount of international exports, 80% comes from higher education, a significant contributor of that being international students coming into the UK,” said Daniels.
“Moreover, a study revealed that every person in the UK is more than £500 better off as a result of international students in the UK.”
According to Daniels, it is a “shame” that international students are included in net migration figures, given that they constitute the majority of legal net migration.
“When people think of that migration, they’re not just thinking about international students, they think about people crossing the Channel on boats,” stated Daniels.
“And there’s a bit of a conflation sometimes in the media. So part of our job is to communicate with families the value that international students provide economically.”
Though recent studies show that most people in the UK recognise the significant economic benefits international students bring, many still support reducing overall immigration numbers, even if that means fewer international students.
Look at the positive economic contributions of students
Rupert Daniels, Department of Business and Trade, UK
“There is a general optimism about having international students in towns and cities, whether you look at the national or hyperlocal impact, or even when you talk to people on the streets,” stated Jess Lister, director and head, higher education, Public First, UK.
“But on the flip side of that, most people would like to see overall immigration numbers come down. Including in that mix, students, if they’re in that overall number.”
UK’s international education strategy
With the Labour government now reviewing the UK’s international education strategy to ensure it remains an effective tool for boosting education exports, speakers underscored the importance of emphasising key aspects to drive sustained growth.
“We would like the international education strategy to be a more external-facing document that speaks to the needs of international partners,” said Charley Robinson, head, global mobility at Universities UK International.
“At the moment, the language is focused on education exports. I think it could be framed much more to present the UK as a partner of choice in our relationships internationally.”
While countries like India, China, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria have been seen as priorities in the UK’s broader international education strategy, Robinson believes there needs to be a “less rigid focus” on that concept as universities are not restricted to recruiting only from specific regions.
As the UK expands its internationalisation ambitions, Daniels urged for it to take a leading role in promoting transnational education.
“There are about 160 UK universities, which are educating over 600,000 students all over the world on UK-based courses and curriculum. So we’ve got to try to balance that and try to say that it’s not just all about students coming into the UK,” said Daniels.
“There are other opportunities for us, not just in higher education but in TVET, in English language learning, and in edtech, because these are all the main drivers of growth.”
The impact of Immigration White Paper 2025
With the UK government imminently set to release its 2025 immigration white paper, which will aim to reduce legal immigration, Robinson believes the UK government can look at this as an opportunity to take a long term strategic approach to immigration policy.
“This is an opportunity for the immigration policy and immigration white paper to be clearly linked with focus on the international education strategy, the industry and skills strategy and future soft powers strategy,” said Robinson.
Public perception of UK universities
The debate over the need for sustainable growth in university recruitment comes at a time when public perception of UK higher education institutions is at an all-time low.
“We have to come to understand that in terms of how people want their tax money to be spent, universities and higher education come dead last in priority,” said Lister.
“The reason for this is that often universities seem to be doing quite well. The sector’s perception of itself is a mismatch to how the public sees it.”
Moreover, Lister highlighted how universities are going through a critical phase wherein they will have to deal with challenges of economic stagnation and increased salary thresholds.
“If higher salary thresholds are implemented, institutions will have to prove how they overcome ten years of zero productivity in the UK economy and that’s going to be really difficult,” stated Lister.
Many international students who end up in the UK job market, due to the Graduate Route, are also facing significant barriers in transitioning into skilled employment.
“Currently, employers have to pay a levy to recruit students from the Graduate Route into the Skilled Worker visa, whereas hiring directly does not incur this cost,” she said.
Concerns around HOELT
As the UK sector aims to deal with a wide range of challenges in the sector, the UK Home Office’s decision to overhaul the current English language testing model has also worried some stakeholders.
The UK Home Office is in discussions with the market regarding proposals for a new Secure English Language Testing model, to be developed by a single supplier, with an estimated value of £1.13 billion.
“We have relayed these concerns to the Home Office while actively engaging with the market. Our priority is to ensure that any policy changes do not disrupt the sector or undermine a thriving part of the industry,” said Daniels.
“The Home Office’s procurement process is not driven or linked to policy; it is focused on enhancing customer experience by identifying where SELT provision is needed globally, considering surge points, ensuring value for money, and maintaining test security and anti-fraud measures,” said Robinson.
“With the current provision ending in 2026, we have been actively engaging with the Home Office throughout this process.”
Better accreditation, AQF key in UK policy
On the question of how education providers can sustain growth while maintaining quality, Daniels highlighted the need for a rigorous accreditation standard, which is incumbent on the sector itself.
While Robinson maintained that systems like the Agent Quality Framework would be mandated for all student sponsors, universities are already engaging with it and expecting it to be mandated.
“The British Council’s agent training program has been highly successful, with nearly 15,000 trained counsellors and 35,000 agents signed up to the British Council Agent Hub,” said Robinson.
“Currently, legal challenges prevent providers from sharing information on rogue agents with each other, as well as between government and universities. A sector-wide framework for sharing intelligence on rogue actors would be a valuable step forward.”
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