Latest news with #UKeducation
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
DPM Zahid sees silver lining in US visa issues, calls for stronger UK-Malaysia education ties
LONDON, June 3 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that policy and systemic changes in the United States (US), including in the education sector, should be viewed as opportunities to explore the advantages of education in other countries. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said this includes exploring new opportunities in the United Kingdom (UK), which has long established educational cooperation with Malaysia. 'We know that Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) has decided to stop sending its sponsored students to the US. My approach is this: when there is a threat, there is always an opportunity. We have to look at the other side of the coin. 'In situations like this, I believe the UK education system, which we are familiar with, can be put to good use,' he said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Committee chairman, said this during a press conference after chairing a meeting with the Malaysian delegation in conjunction with his four-day working visit to the UK starting yesterday. On Sunday, Mara chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced that Mara will stop sending its sponsored students to the US starting this year, following the introduction of new policies and directives under President Donald Trump. Previously, the Trump administration issued an order to halt the processing of all foreign student visas and was reportedly considering screening new applicants based on their social media posts. Ahmad Zahid also said he would use his working visit to broaden cooperation in the field of TVET, particularly in exploring new areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics and green energy in collaboration with UK universities. 'There are many new technology sectors, especially in green energy, that have already been implemented here and from which we can learn. We hope programmes like 'training the trainers' (ToT), for example, will bear fruit once they have undergone courses here,' he said. Among the key items on Ahmad Zahid's itinerary in the UK are meetings with representatives of leading institutions such as University College London, delivering a public lecture on Malaysia's TVET direction and engaging with Mara-sponsored students. — Bernama
The National
13-05-2025
- Business
- The National
UK considering 6% levy on university income from foreign students
Universities are facing a levy of 6 per cent on the income raised from overseas students' fees under the UK government's plans to reduce net migration. The proposal was put forward in a plan published on Monday, which stated that fees paid by students coming to Britain contribute £12 billion ($15.85 billion) towards the higher education sector. Fees form part of an overall £20.65 billion contribution to the economy made by international students 'but it is right that these benefits are shared', the government said. The government is exploring a levy it says will be reinvested in the higher education and skills system and though a figure was not revealed, it is understood to be 6 per cent. Under the proposals, graduate visas will be reduced to 18 months and the requirements that sponsoring universities must meet to recruit international students will be strengthened. The UK government said there have been problems involving "misuse and exploitation of student visas" and "too many graduates" who stay in the UK after their studies are not moving into graduate-level jobs. The plans form part of a pledge by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to significantly reduce migration, which has risen sharply in recent years and led to the rise of the anti-migration Reform UK party. But university leaders have been warning of significant financial concerns caused by a drop in the number of international students, who can be charged higher tuition fees, following restrictions introduced by the former Conservative government, as well as frozen tuition fees paid by domestic students. Last week, an analysis by the Office for Students, the higher education regulator, forecast 43 per cent of universities and colleges in England were expected to be in deficit this year. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute think tank, warned the proposed levy on international students 'will be seen by many as a tax on a very successful UK export sector'. Mr Hillman said other ideas were also 'problematic', particularly reducing the length of the graduate visa. He explained that 'employers wanted to see an increase to three or four years, rather than a reduction, as new employees take months to become productive members of the workforce'. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said: 'Following years of frozen fees, inadequate research funding and a rapid downturn in international students, the current operating environment is very challenging'. "We would urge government to think carefully about the impact that a levy on international student fees will have on universities and the attractiveness of the UK as a study destination,' she said. Business leaders are also warning that a levy and any restrictions on overseas students could have an adverse effect on the British economy. Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry, said: "Policy changes that risk making the UK a less attractive place to study, or increase costs confronting universities, will have knock-on impacts for the competitive strength of UK higher education as a growth export and young people's ability to access degree-level education at home. "These trade-offs need to be considered if the government is serious about developing domestic talent and driving growth."
Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Universities face foreign student tax as Starmer cracks down on migration
Universities face a new tax on foreign students as part of Sir Keir Starmer's efforts to reduce net migration. In its long-awaited white paper, the Government announced it was considering a 6 per cent 'levy' on the £12 billion-a-year fee income that universities generate from overseas students. It said the money would be reinvested in the 'higher education and skills system' as part of the white paper's proposals to boost training of domestic workers to reduce UK industry's reliance on foreign staff. The white paper also cut the time that foreign graduates can remain in the UK after finishing their studies from two years to 18 months. They do not have to work during that period, but will only be allowed to stay on afterwards if they are in graduate-level work. University rules on recruiting foreign students are to be tightened, requiring fewer drop-outs and no-shows. Universities that fail to meet these tougher targets will face restrictions on the numbers they can recruit and could be barred from sponsoring foreign students. The moves sparked a backlash from universities, which have already had a 16 per cent drop in applications from overseas after a crackdown by the Tories on students bringing dependents with them. One union leader warned it could push universities into bankruptcy. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said: 'Following years of frozen fees, inadequate research funding and a rapid downturn in international students, the current operating environment is very challenging. 'We would urge the Government to think carefully about the impact that a levy on international student fees will have on universities and the attractiveness of the UK as a study destination.' Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: 'This anti-growth white paper is straight out of the Reform playbook. With higher education already under severe financial pressure, any further restrictions which deter international students from coming to the UK could lead to universities going under.' She added: 'The Home Office needs to stop imposing arbitrary restrictions that prevent international students and staff from coming to the UK, driving economic growth and enriching local communities. Its failure to do so will harm universities, the country and our global standing.' Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said the 'deeply controversial' levy was 'a tax on a very successful UK export sector'. 'There will also be concerns that some of the money raised will be siphoned off by the Treasury – just as has happened with the apprenticeship levy,' he added. The number of foreign students – who pay full fees of as much as £60,000 a year and effectively cross-subsidise universities losses on UK students – have more than doubled in the past five years. More than half moved on to another visa after completing their studies in the past three years, up from 20 per cent in 2020, meaning they have had a bigger impact on net migration. The white paper said there was, however, evidence that the system was being abused with 16,000 making asylum claims, accounting for about half of all such applications from people who had arrived in the UK on a visa. 'The evidence suggests that at present, in some cases, the integrity of the UK's student visa system is being undermined, both by individuals from overseas seeking to exploit it and by education providers in this country failing to protect it,' said the white paper. It raised particular concerns over the numbers of foreign students coming to the UK for masters' courses, which increased by 150 per cent to 315,000 between 2020 and 2022, and over the types of institutions with the biggest rises. Visas for universities in the bottom-ranked 500 universities rose by 49 per cent in the two years to 2023, compared with a fall of 7 per cent in the top 100. To prevent the misuse of student visas, universities will now be required to ensure at least 90 per cent of foreign students complete their courses and at least 95 per cent turn up for them. A new red-amber-green warning system will tell the public how universities are performing in achieving compliance. Universities 'close to failing on their metrics' will have to draw up an action plan and face limits on the number of new foreign students they can recruit.
