Jobs threatened by Newcastle University visa cuts

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A NORTH East university has warned the Government that its "knee jerk" proposals to cut the number of visas for foreign students could put hundreds of jobs at risk in the region.
Officials at Newcastle University are worried about plans to reduce net migration by more than half by 2015.
In particular, they are concerned by proposals to cut the number of visas granted to prospective students to help reach their target.
Now a report by Universities UK has revealed that almost 1,500 jobs, most of which are in the North East, are dependent upon the 16,000 international students at the region’s five universities.
The changes were drawn up amid fears that some of those granted visas are linked to terrorist activity and applied for university in order to enter the country legitimately.
It is also believed that a number of legitimate students do not leave when their studies are complete.
But Professor Tony Stevenson, Newcastle University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for planning and resources, said: “The Government’s proposals seem to be a knee jerk reaction to public concern about immigration.


“The report by Universities UK demonstrates that any curbs on the number of international students coming to the North East would harm the regional economy and cost jobs, just at a time when the region can least afford it.
“The Government have got themselves in a fix over this.
“On the one hand, you have William Hague and the Prime Minister saying British universities are open for business and then the Home Office saying they are not if you are foreign.
“It is sending the wrong message. We set ourselves up as a global economy but we are refusing to play a role in that.
“They are saying a lot of these students are overstaying their welcome, but from our figures we do not think this is true.
“The international students provide a huge proportion of our budget – 10% of the total income – and that underpins jobs in the North East.”
The report, Making an Economic Impact: Higher Education and the English Regions, said direct income from international students to the universities of Newcastle, Durham, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside totalled £279m per year, according to the latest figures. In addition, international students generated a further £111m in off-campus expenditure, which generated a further £45m in knock-on economic effects
Annie Young, 28, an international student at Newcastle University studying Applied Linguistics and TESOL, said: “Chinese students spend more money in the UK than they do in China so if their numbers are cut that would be bad for the UK economy.” Tugce Samli, 28, who is from Turkey and doing a PhD in urban planning at the university, said: “We are not spending the UK Government’s money, I am spending my government’s money.
“I am just studying here and I am contributing to the economy.”
Earlier this year , another study said international students provided a substantial boost to the region’s economy.
Last night Gateshead MP Ian Mearns, a member of the education select committee, said: “The Government are attacking the wrong target, the wrong institutions.
“If they are trying to handle immigration, the universities of the North East and across the country are not the right target.
“There are some institutions that have been set up as an easy way to get into the country for a couple of hundred pounds, but the universities of the North East are not those. It is a false argument by the Government.” Immigration Minister Damian Green said: “I believe attracting talented students from abroad is vital to the UK, but we must be more selective about who can some here and how long they can stay.
“People imagine that students come here for a few years to study at our universities and then go home. That is not always the case. Too many come to do courses below degree level as a cover for staying and working.”

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