Study UK - Latest news and events

BIS report shows Tier 4 changes damaged UK FE sector

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has released a report assessing the economic benefits of Tier 4 students to FE colleges and to the country more broadly, and the effects on colleges of the 2011 changes to Tier 4. Read the report here.

While Study UK welcomes the increasing awareness in Government of the benefits that international students bring to the UK, we are concerned to see that the research confirms that changes to Tier 4 have had a significant negative impact on the UK’s further education sector. The research shows not only that the increased restrictions on Tier 4 learners have led to lower student recruitment numbers and a loss of a significant amount of income for colleges, but that some colleges have reduced their overall course offer as they no longer have sufficient numbers to run these, creating a negative impact on individuals in their local communities that may want to take these courses.

Although the research concentrates on publicly funded colleges, similar effects of the Tier 4 changes are being felt amongst independent providers. Study UK shares the concerns of public FE colleges that continuation of current Government policies will have a significant long-term negative impact on the cultural and economic benefits which our sectors bring to the UK, as well as damaging the reputation of the UK among international students in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Read The Pie News story on the report, quoting Study UK, here.

New directors for Study UK

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Study UK is delighted to announce the election of three new members to its eight-strong Board of Directors, who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fields of national and international business and education.

Sue Edwards has an unrivalled record in promoting the UK as the destination of choice for international students, having worked for over 20 years with two of the industry’s biggest names, Aspect Education and Kaplan International Colleges, and currently serving as Chair of Study UK’s sister association English UK. Sue will be representing Study UK’s providers of international foundation year programmes on the Board.

William Hunt started Greenwich School of Management with his brother in 1973 and has led it through four decades of growth to reach its current position as one of the country’s largest independent providers of higher education, delivering a wide portfolio of specialist courses across three sites in London. William assumes representative duties for the association’s independent higher education institutions.

Paul Kirkham was inspired to take his successful career in business in a new direction after taking a course at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance during a sabbatical break. Having acquired the Institute in 2003, he has overseen a programme of investment and development that has seen the organisation more than quadruple in size over the last five years. Paul becomes Study UK’s first director of communications, leading on its new public engagement and information strategy.

Sue Hindley, Study UK Chair, said: “We are delighted to have three such tremendously talented and highly respected figures from the sector join our board. Their outstanding combination of skills, experience and commitment will help to advance the cause of high-quality independent education everywhere, and to cement Study UK’s position as the national representative body for the UK’s independent sector. I am confident that we now have an association and an executive team that truly reflects the diversity and depth of provision available at non-traditional institutions, and the Board is looking forward to working with our growing membership in the months ahead to demonstrate the value and importance of the independent education sector to a wide range of national and international stakeholders.”

Indian students lose out in choice of UK degrees

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Study UK welcomes the Prime Minister's comments yesterday encouraging Indian students to consider higher education in the UK, but is disappointed that his Government continues to deny these talented young people a free choice of where to study. Sue Hindley, Chair of Study UK, explains:

"Thousands of Indian students each year have chosen to take their degrees at one of the UK's excellent university partner colleges. These smaller, independent colleges offer full undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes at convenient locations across the UK, with a friendly and supportive atmosphere and excellent value for money.

"Sadly, none of these students will be allowed to work for even a single day while they're here, after the Government changed the visa rules to actively discriminate against independent colleges, even those with top marks from the Quality Assurance Agency and a clean bill of health from the UK Border Agency. Student can be fully registered with a leading university, studying the exact same course as their on-campus counterparts, and yet they won't have the chance to find a part-time job, or even voluntary work in the community.

"The Prime Minister talks up the employment opportunities for Indian students who graduate here. But the inconvenient truth is that independent college graduates, even with a first-class honours degree from a UK university, will find it very hard to get a foot in the door of the graduate job market without this all-important work experience."

Independent education sector responds to Theresa May comments

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Study UK has responded to comments made yesterday by the Home Secretary, Theresa May, regarding immigration and international student visas.

In a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank in London, Mrs May announced plans by the UK Border Agency to expand its programme of interviews for prospective students to 'considerably more than 100,000' per year from April 2013, but confirmed that there is "no cap on the number of students able to come here - and there are no current plans to introduce a cap". Also from April, non-EU students who complete PhDs in the UK will automatically be allowed to stay on for one year in order to find a job or start a business, to ensure that the UK benefits from their expertise.

Paul Kirkham, Communications Director for Study UK, said:

"We are pleased that the Home Secretary has re-confirmed that there is no cap on international student numbers, and we welcome the growing understanding within Government generally of the value of international students to the UK. Unfortunately the speech also starkly demonstrates her department's continuing marginalisation of independent education providers, who play an essential and expanding role in the success of the UK's education sector.

"Mrs May's statement that 'if you can speak English, and you can get a place on a proper course at a proper university' is typical of the prejudice and lack of recognition faced by high-quality independent institutions. The Home Secretary appears not to understand that many universities depend on the 'proper students' who access their courses by first studying 'proper courses' at 'proper independent colleges'. In fact, recent figures from Universities UK themselves confirm that a large proportion of their international students come through such providers. And it would also appear that she has failed to appreciate the significant contribution of the independent sector to the UK economy in terms of employment, export revenues and direct foreign investment.

"The independent institutions represented by Study UK have risen to the challenges set by the Home Secretary last year. They have secured their future as Tier 4 sponsors, and have on every measure proven their commitment to responsible recruitment and high-quality provision. Study UK members include world-class institutions that attract talented students from every corner of the globe, many of whom go on to further study at UK universities. Despite the welcome news that no cap on numbers is planned, Study UK will be seeking further assurances that Mrs May's vision for recruiting the brightest and best international students will not exclude those who have chosen to study at one of the UK's many outstanding independent institutions."

David Willetts, QAA and ISI at Study UK Conference

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Wednesday 28th November 2012 will see Study UK's 2012 AGM and Conference take place, kindly hosted by UKTI at the BIS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET (click here for a map).

Attendance is free for Study UK members, while interested non-members may attend for just £49 per delegate. The programme runs from 9:30am until 4:30pm, with a complimentary lunch provided. Speakers include:

– Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science
– Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
– Christine Ryan, Chief Inspector, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
– Bharat Pamnani, Assistant Director – Sponsorship, UK Border Agency

The morning will feature a review of 2012, a session on Tier 4 updates from the UK Border Agency and a panel discussion on international students and immigration policies. The afternoon will then shift focus to the new Quality Assurance arrangements for our sector (break-out sessions with either QAA or ISI), a keynote address by the Universities Minister David Willetts, and an update on important new policies from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills related to regulatory powers and the public funding of independent sector students. The day will close with a discussion of plans, prospects and campaigns for 2013.

Please book your place at the Conference using our secure online booking form at the following address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/33S5KMV. Bookings will close on Friday 23rd November so make sure to reserve your place in good time.

A new Joint Education Taskforce

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Joint Education Taskforce (JET) was convened by the Home Office to provide a forum for discussing immigration issues with the education sector. Since 2005 it has played a key role in helping to shape Government policy around international students and the visa system, in particular the development and implementation of Tier 4, and has remained the formal channel of communication between UKBA and the sector through its subsequent changes. Unfortunately as time went on JET lost much of its effectiveness as a policy and logistical discussion forum due mainly to its increasingly large and disparate membership, reaching by 2011 some 50 members and 30 separate organisations.

Following a comprehensive internal review of its objectives and membership, JET has now been radically restructured into a core group of just half a dozen members representing education providers, joined by key Government officials from the Home Office and other relevant departments. This will allow it to regain its focus on enabling full and frank discussion of the key issues for the sector and hopefully become once more a vehicle for shaping future policy on education and immigration.

We are delighted to confirm that Study UK is a member of the new core JET group, and the sole representatives of the independent tertiary education sector. Our sub-group meetings will be the main forums for individual Study UK members to make their board representative aware of what issues are most important to them. These issues will be discussed at Study UK board meetings, and key issues which need to be addressed by the Home Office can then be added to the agenda at the next JET meeting. In this way we hope to represent effectively to Government the interests of independent institutions of all types, covering HE, FE, sixth form, specialist, study abroad and university pathway providers. Study UK will be joined on the core JET group by the other key representative bodies (English UK, Universities UK, Guild HE and the UK Council of Colleges), as well as UKCISA and the British Council.

Most of JET's regular business will be conducted by the core group, while a wider stakeholder group will remain in operation for communications and annual meetings. We look forward to working closely with our sector partners and the Government in contributing to the development of future policy and ensuring that the immigration system works effectively both for the benefit of UK education and for the country as a whole.

Report shows UK slipping in global education stakes

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

A new report published today warns that the UK risks losing its appeal to international students and seeing its share of the growing global education market decline.

The report by Wild ReSearch, 'Education: A Great British Export?', finds that tighter visa restrictions and the implied message that students are not welcome may already be impairing the UK's competitiveness in some of the world's most important markets. In a survey of Chinese school students and their parents, over 40% indicated that changes to the UK visa system would lead them to choose to study in rival countries such as the USA instead. Of particular concern was the imminent abolition of the Post-Study Work route, just as key competitor Australia is introducing its own PSW scheme.

One of the authors, Graham Able, former head of Dulwich College and CEO of the Alpha Plus group of independent colleges, told BBC news yesterday that "the UK has some of the best colleges and universities, but we are in danger of losing market share to the US, Canada and Australia." His co-author, Fraser White, is an expert in exporting British education abroad through his Shangai-based company DCMI, which operates a number of British-model schools throughout East Asia, and shared his concerns that Chinese students were increasingly turning away from Britain towards American schools and universities.

This new report, arriving soon after British Council research drew similar conclusions, emphasises the huge potential of the education sector to be a key driver of the UK's economic growth through exports, but also the real danger that recent successes could be easily reversed. The authors conclude that "long-term growth must not be sacrificed for the short-term political gains of government departments" and call for "a consistent approach across government to help promote and develop education from British providers".

A key recommendation of the report is for official immigration statistics to show separately the number of students entering the UK, echoing a recent call by Universities UK to exclude students from the Government's ambitious target for reducing net migration. Study UK would strongly support such a move to enhance the transparency and usefulness of these statistics while avoiding the economic and educational disaster of artificially restricting student numbers.

Study UK Association Manager Alex Proudfoot said: "the UK's long-term economic strength and global influence may very well depend on our ability and willingness to be the world's educator. Our centuries-long history of academic excellence cannot be matched by any other country, and it is an asset that we squander at our peril. Many leading figures in emerging nations are educated abroad and we should strive to ensure that British values and ideas inform their worldviews and that the UK is first in the line of potential partners for these thriving economies."

British Council warns Government on student visas

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

New research published by the British Council yesterday has called into question Government policies aimed at reducing the intake of international students. The Education Intelligence report 'Impact of Visa Changes on Student Mobility and Outlook for the UK' looks at the recent experiences of the USA and Australia in tightening student visa controls and the effect that it had on their higher education sectors and economies.

It warns that the adoption of policies that other countries have now abandoned has "managed to single out the UK as the country with the toughest immigration regime when compared to its competitors" and risks losing "genuine and career-driven students" to Australia, Canada and the US. The report warns further that "the publicity overseas of recent closures of private colleges is expected to have a negative impact on the UK education brand as a quality destination".

Dr Jo Beall, director of education and society at the British Council, told Times Higher Education that the Government's policies on student visas and post-study work needed "urgent review... if we're not going to undermine the economic benefit that higher education as an export sector brings" and accused the Home Office of favouring "short-term" goals over "the strength of our industrial innovation, our research and development base, [and] our reputation as a higher education provider".

Study UK welcomes the British Council's valuable contribution to this ongoing and essential debate, and calls on the Government to respond with new measures to repair the UK's reputation as a country that welcomes international students and the economic, academic and cultural benefits they bring. Alex Proudfoot, Study UK Association Manager, said: "Dr Beall makes an important point by recognising the essential part that private colleges play in giving students from diverse backgrounds a pathway into higher education. The catastrophic decline in enrolments and closure of good colleges should send alarm bells ringing across Whitehall, because it is not just the private sector that suffers - the UK's universities will also feel the pain."

New report highlights visa rules damage to private sector

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

A report released today by a leading think tank brings into sharp focus the damage being caused by new immigration controls on the private higher education sector. In 'Tier 4 tears: how government student visa controls are destroying the private HE sector', CentreForum issues a damning verdict on the effect of changes to the student visa system, which have been "devastating for many in the sector".

Study UK's own research indicates that enrolments in the sector have dropped by around 70% as a result of the rule changes and interim cap on recruitment, costing some £400 million in lost tuition fees and an even greater impact on the wider economy. The CentreForum report concludes that "the government must act if we are to avoid seeing the destruction of much of the private HE sector in the UK" and calls for the reinstatement of part-time work rights for students at independent colleges.

Picking up the story yesterday, the Independent on Sunday highlighted the disconnect between Home Office policies and efforts by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to promote more choice in Higher Education. As Chris Nicholson, CentreForum chief executive and the report's author, puts it: "the student visa controls make a mockery of the Government's aim to promote greater diversity in higher education. The private sector is being critically undermined."

Study UK member Cavendish College is one of those forced to close by the squeeze on recruitment caused by Tier 4 changes and has been used as a case study for the CentreForum report. Its Principal, Dr John Sanders, told the Independent: "Withdrawal of these part-time work rights has really killed off recruitment for private colleges. They are clearing out a lot of good colleges as well as the bad".

Alex Proudfoot, Study UK Association Manager, responded today: "It is very sad that a highly regarded college such as Cavendish has had to shut its doors after 25 years of providing an excellent education to students from diverse backgrounds. We share the Government's aim of protecting the sector from the profiteers that once thrived thanks to lax regulation, but we cannot support a sledgehammer approach that hits good institutions as hard as the bad. Every Cavendish that closes is a loss to the local economy, a blow to our national recovery and a stain on the name of UK education."

'Introducing QAA' workshops

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Study UK is pleased to announce a series of workshops in partnership with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for colleges that will be undergoing their first QAA review in the next year. The first workshops to be confirmed will take place on December 15th and on January 10-11th in London (Docklands).

These workshops are sure to be extremely popular, providing a unique opportunity for advice and preparation to any independent college accepted for QAA review under the new Educational Oversight arrangements. Early booking is therefore advised, and Study UK members benefit from a discounted rate.

Click here for a PDF with full details or visit the QAA website. Any enquiries should be directed to Charlie Leyland at QAA, on 01452 557017 or c.leyland@qaa.ac.uk.

Universities Minister David Willetts to speak at AGM

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Study UK’s 2011 AGM and Conference will be held on Friday 25th November at the Westminster Conference Centre (1 Victoria Street, SW1H 0ET) owned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Non-Members can attend for a fee of £35 (which will be refunded should you decide to join up for membership in 2012), to give everyone in the sector a valuable opportunity at this difficult time to come together and discuss recent developments, their current concerns and hopes for the future.

The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science, will speak on his vision for the sector, and he will be joined by Martin Williams, Director of HE Policy at BIS, in setting out how private providers can play a key part in the country's educational landscape. This combination of minister and top civil servant will provide a unique insight into the Government's plans for the sector, and should not be missed especially by those institutions at the HE end of the spectrum.

The UK Border Agency will also speak about the latest changes in immigration policy and give advice on successfully navigating this complex transitional period, as will Nichola Carter, Head of Immigration at Pennington's Solicitors.

If you would like to attend, please complete the attached booking form and submit to info@study-uk.org by 4pm on Monday 21st November.

QAA Handbooks Published

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The QAA has published handbooks and operational description for the review for educational oversight process:

Study UK event: Briefing on QAA Review Process

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Biscoe, Assistant Director of the QAA, will be addressing a special Study UK briefing on the QAA review process on Friday 26th August from 1.15pm.

This event is free to Study UK members (who may bring one guest for free) and £45 to non-members.

The venue will be in West London and a light sandwich lunch will be provided.

Deadline for booking places is end of day Wednesday 24th August.

For more details or to book your place please email: info@study-uk.org

Study UK quoted in Times Higher Education article

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Read the article Private leaders say harmful immigration changes will prevent competition here

QAA Conference Speech

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Read Damian Green's speech from the QAA conference here

ISI announces consultation

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

To take part in the Independent Schools Inspectorate consultation on private further education inspection go to the ISI website here

Westminster Hall Debate - Student Visas

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Watch the Westminster Hall Debate on Student Visas here

QAA announces educational oversight role

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Read the QAA press release - Quality is key to new student visa arrangements - here

Immigration Rules laid before Parliament