Speaking at the opening of the IHEF conference, Alex Burghart, the UK's under secretary of state for skills in Department of Education, said that the country's universities have a huge role to play in education not just because of theirglobal reputation or the growing appetite of foreign students to study in the UK but also because of what they represent.
The greatest strength of thehigher education system of the country is its freedom and academic excellence that allowit to 'flourish and survive'. The UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine's resistance is evidenced by its participation in international efforts to oppose tyranny. In response to the situation in Ukraine, the UK has granted new visa concessions to allow Ukrainian students to stay in the UK.
One example of this is the new visa concessions that will allow Ukrainian students to stay in the UK without leaving the country. The new visa concessions will allow Ukrainian students to extend their stay in the UK or switch their visas. The government and the higher education sector have been working together to ensure that Ukrainian students receive the support they need. He praised the sector for its remarkable work.
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Earlier this week, in response, the Irish government and the country's universities association announced that they would work together to ensure that Ukrainian students can access higher education in Ireland.
Oxford International Education Group, which is a leading provider of higher education in the UK, is also offering free English language courses to Ukrainian students. On the other side of the world, Australia's Independent Higher Education has also announced scholarship programs for Ukrainian students.
Speaking about the importance of foreign education, Burghart noted that it can help young people develop their minds and attitudes against those of other cultures. As the world begins to fracture into various spheres of influence, the importance of education grows even greater.
Ambitions set out in the 2030 international education strategy for the UK are on track, the minister noted. The minister also noted that the UK's goal of achieving 600,000 international students in 2020/21 is also on track.
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The target for the education export industry to reach GBP 35 billion by 2030 is well on targetwith 2019's expected sales of GBP 25.2 billion. The minister noted that there is huge potential for the sector to grow. Over the past 10 years, the value of transnational education has doubled.
The UK's place at the forefront of innovation in the field of education is something that Burghart wants to see continue. He also urged the UK's universities to work with the Department for Trade to promote education in the future free trade agreements that the UK can now sign.
He addedthat he would like to see more international students studying in the UKnot just because it's a great place to live and work, but also because it will enable them to continue developing their academic excellence.
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He has pledged to work with the higher education sector to support the international student journey. As part of this effort, the minister noted that the government would focus on making the application process for international students easier.
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Source: The PIE News
