Indian students can now stay in the UK for up to two years after graduation. ProF Richard Davies speaks about the benefits of this relaxation
The recent announcement that international students starting in 2020-21 can remain for up to two years after completing their studies is a positive news for UK universities and international students. But why and what impact will the change have?
At our university, 20 per cent of our students are international, and students from India are the third largest cohort of international students after China and Hong Kong. The International Student Barometer (ISB) 2018 shows that 92.5 per cent of respondents are satisfied and 95.6 per cent are happy at Newcastle University, while employment figures show that 90 per cent of our international students in work or further study, with 98 per cent of those in employment in professional and managerial jobs.
We are proud to welcome students from 130 countries and having such diversity makes us a stronger university that is better able to contribute to solving global challenges through our research and teaching. We want to see more Indian students studying with us and beyond that our partnerships with Indian universities and organisations.
Going back to the most important person here — the student and their experience — most of us will have vivid recollections of the first experience of work.
The connections we make, some that last a lifetime, the mentorship and guidance we get. We were starting to use some of the transferable and technical skills we learnt during our degrees. Perhaps developing a network of contacts that will kick-start our careers. Or of course the importance of earning a wage, paying back debt, paying tax or even employing others.
Change is something that Indian students wanting to study in the UK should be delighted with. In most cases our international students tell us that studying with us has been a hugely positive, life-changing experience.
The writer is Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Global, Newcastle University, UK