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UEL urges prime minister to review approach to international students

Wednesday 30 May 2012

international students

The University of East London (UEL) has put its name to a letter to the prime minister signed by nearly 70 UK university chancellors and chairs of council, urging the government to support the UK’s universities in their efforts to recruit genuine international students.

The letter, which was submitted by Universities UK, has been signed by business leaders, peers from all major parties and other prominent figures from the arts and media in their roles as chancellors or chairs of universities. 

They are backing calls for international university students to be removed from net migration statistics for policy purposes, bringing the UK into line with our major competitors. They are urging the government to make a clear distinction between temporary and permanent migration in order to help the UK maintain its position as a world-leader in international higher education and send out the message that the UK welcomes, and values, genuine international students.

Professor Patrick McGhee, Vice-Chancellor of UEL, said: “As a university, we are rightly proud that our student population is extremely diverse with representation from more than 120 countries across the world. On that basis, we stand firmly behind this lobbying effort, and sincerely hope that David Cameron takes heed of our concerns about the impact of his government’s immigration policy on international students.”

Mark Stephens, Chair of the Board of Governors at UEL, said: “I had no hesitation whatsoever in putting my name to this letter. While we welcome the measures that the government has taken to improve border controls, and counter any abuse of the student visa route, international students also bring significant cultural richness and long-term political and social benefits to this country, and return many benefits to the countries from which they come.”

 The UK continues to have one of the strongest higher education systems in the world and universities can play a considerable part in driving the UK’s economic growth. Countries such as the US and Australia have recognised the potential in this growth area, and are taking active steps to attract international students, broadcasting very different messages to the world than the UK.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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