GLOBAL CITIZEN - Now, Students Face Language Barrier in UK
With the UK government planning to introduce tougher English language tests for non-European Union students, many from India who are looking at UK as a destination for higher studies will be affected. In fact, this new move by the British government is likely to lead to a further fall in the number of Indians going to the UK for higher studies.According to a report in The Sunday Times, UK's Home Office officials recently held a workshop with representatives of universities to discuss the new system to introduce tougher English language standards for foreign students. The tests are, in fact, expected to be tougher than those being used in Australia and America. Top universities in the UK are worried over the hard stand being taken by home secretary Theresa May on limiting the number of international students.
“I think that these restrictions are economically illiterate and will damage the UK's global influence. It will come as a great blow to the UK's universities who have always advocated actually lessening the restrictions.Our university chiefs are already worried at the tarnished reputation and the loss of talent that UK universities and research faculties are suffering as a result of Theresa May's policies regarding international students,“ said UK entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria, who was recently appointed president of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).
He said it was strange that the UK government aims to increase restrictions on international students thereby making it tougher to enter the UK in order to study . “Our economy thrives on building international connections and taking in talent from throughout the world, and the higher education sector plays a key role in this. It is one of Britain's strongest forms of soft power. In other ways, the UK is inviting young international talent, such as through the UK Trade & Investment's Sirius programme, yet tighter rules on student visas run directly contrary to this.“
Earlier this year, the UK government changed rules related to Tier-4 student visas to prevent non-EU foreign students at publicly funded colleges from working and banning such college students from extending their Tier-4 visas in UK. Further, col lege students have also been banned from switching visas to Tiers 2 and Tier 5 in the UK and are now required to apply from outside the country .
“Stricter English language rules will further deter international students from coming here to study.International students will feel unwelcome in this country and the scrapping of the two-year post-study visa has already had very damaging effects. I have long campaigned for international students to be excluded from net migration figures and that the government should make more exceptions to allow international students to remain in the country , but we have not seen this happen,“ Bilimoria added.
The new rules are also causing concern among some sections within the government as the number of Indian students is falling every year. Last year, there were 12,000 student visas granted to Indians by the UK High Commission.
“Stricter student visa rules are potentially damaging, given that international students contribute massively to the system and financially prop up most universities. The UK needs to have a system in place where the brightest and best international students can come and flourish,“ said Navinder Kalsi, director of UK-based consultancy GB Immigration.
There are fears among educationists and experts that for many students from India, UK is becoming an unviable option to study with other countries such as Canada and Australia becoming more attractive.
“Indian students make up the second-largest portion of international students in the UK and the decreasing numbers represent a huge loss to UK universities, who rely on foreign talent that benefits UK universities in so many ways. The UK has extensive ties with India we have India's largest share of foreign direct investment and we want future generations of Indians to partner with the UK,“ said Bilimoria.
“I think that these restrictions are economically illiterate and will damage the UK's global influence. It will come as a great blow to the UK's universities who have always advocated actually lessening the restrictions.Our university chiefs are already worried at the tarnished reputation and the loss of talent that UK universities and research faculties are suffering as a result of Theresa May's policies regarding international students,“ said UK entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria, who was recently appointed president of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).
He said it was strange that the UK government aims to increase restrictions on international students thereby making it tougher to enter the UK in order to study . “Our economy thrives on building international connections and taking in talent from throughout the world, and the higher education sector plays a key role in this. It is one of Britain's strongest forms of soft power. In other ways, the UK is inviting young international talent, such as through the UK Trade & Investment's Sirius programme, yet tighter rules on student visas run directly contrary to this.“
Earlier this year, the UK government changed rules related to Tier-4 student visas to prevent non-EU foreign students at publicly funded colleges from working and banning such college students from extending their Tier-4 visas in UK. Further, col lege students have also been banned from switching visas to Tiers 2 and Tier 5 in the UK and are now required to apply from outside the country .
“Stricter English language rules will further deter international students from coming here to study.International students will feel unwelcome in this country and the scrapping of the two-year post-study visa has already had very damaging effects. I have long campaigned for international students to be excluded from net migration figures and that the government should make more exceptions to allow international students to remain in the country , but we have not seen this happen,“ Bilimoria added.
The new rules are also causing concern among some sections within the government as the number of Indian students is falling every year. Last year, there were 12,000 student visas granted to Indians by the UK High Commission.
“Stricter student visa rules are potentially damaging, given that international students contribute massively to the system and financially prop up most universities. The UK needs to have a system in place where the brightest and best international students can come and flourish,“ said Navinder Kalsi, director of UK-based consultancy GB Immigration.
There are fears among educationists and experts that for many students from India, UK is becoming an unviable option to study with other countries such as Canada and Australia becoming more attractive.
“Indian students make up the second-largest portion of international students in the UK and the decreasing numbers represent a huge loss to UK universities, who rely on foreign talent that benefits UK universities in so many ways. The UK has extensive ties with India we have India's largest share of foreign direct investment and we want future generations of Indians to partner with the UK,“ said Bilimoria.
Source: Economic Times, 19-10-2015
