Chairman of European Higher Education Organization Igor Kiselev talks about international student recruitment. It may seem idealistic but internationalisation should strive to deliver a levelling up agenda that frees the world from a bigoted and exploitative past while forging a collaborative and socially just future. That is only possible if leading English-speaking destinations end their obsession with post-study work and start supporting the ‘brightest and best’ international graduates in their transition to the workforce back home.
For the United Kingdom, in particular, it may be the moment for considering radical action that differentiates its approach and creates sustained, transformative relationships with countries around the globe.
Post-study work rights and routes to immigration are generally framed in the context of remaining globally competitive. On reflection, this means competitive against every other self-interested English-speaking country that is so unwilling to invest properly in its higher education system that it sees students from poorer countries as a convenient and interest free source of income.
See video report about it