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University Alliance responds to Immigration White Paper

Liz Bromley, Acting CEO of University Alliance commented:

“Today’s long awaited Immigration White Paper clearly indicates a very different direction of travel for UK immigration policy.

We welcome the news that international students will be able to remain in the UK for six months following graduation, and the lifting of the cap for skilled migration. We would hope to see this more flexible attitude filter through to other areas of policy.

The thrust of much of the white paper however will be a real challenge to University Alliance members and Britain’s world leading university sector as a whole.

In order for our higher education sector, which contributes £95 billion to the UK economy, to continue to thrive we need to be able to access not just capable students but also the brilliant academics, technicians and researchers that make our universities globally renowned.

We worry that a system of arbitrary targets, income measures and restrictions will put this vital driver of the British economy under even more pressure. We will continue to engage with government on this issue as future policy and legislation takes place”.

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