Mentions:
1: Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con - Life peer) This week, the International Monetary Fund upgraded its forecast for UK growth in 2024, and in April - Speech Link
2: Lord Davies of Brixton (Lab - Life peer) My recollection—it is a long time ago—is that the law students were particularly serious and I am glad - Speech Link
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the economy of the fall in applications by international students to study in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Amnesty International report published on 13 May “On my campus, I am afraid": China's Targeting of Overseas Students Stifles Rights; and what action they are taking with allies to protect Chinese and Hong Kong students studying abroad who are subject to intimidation and surveillance from Chinese agents.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government’s International Education Strategy and its recent update make clear that the internationalisation of the higher education (HE) sector cannot come at any cost. Universities must ensure they have appropriate processes in place to manage risk.
The department recognises concerns about overseas interference in the HE sector and regularly assess the risks facing staff and students.
The Integrated Review Refresh, which this government published in March 2023, sets out in clear terms the UK’s policy towards engagement with China and Chinese entities.
Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK, or on campuses abroad, will not be tolerated. This is an insidious threat to democracy and fundamental human rights.
The department passed the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 to further protect the UK’s campuses from interference and other threats to lawful freedom of speech. The Act strengthens existing freedom of speech duties placed upon HE providers in England and creates new routes of redress if these duties are breached.
The department has made the Commencement Regulations to ensure the main provisions of the Act are in place for 1 August 2024.
Where providers are operating campuses abroad, they must take, and should already be taking, reasonably practicable steps to secure freedom of speech within the law on those campuses.
HE providers are independent autonomous organisations and therefore responsible for ensuring they have adequate governance and risk management procedures in place when accepting donations. The department expects the HE sector to be alert to risks when collaborating with any international partners.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic contribution of international students.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government recognises the significant economic and cultural contribution that international students make to the UK’s higher education sector.
Department statistics on education-related exports estimated that international students generated £20.65 billion to the UK economy in 2021 through their tuition fees and living expenditure.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of international students in subsidising domestic students in universities.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
International student fee income made up 43% of the overall UK higher education (HE) sector fee income in 2021/22 (£10.4 billion of £24.4 billion). The fee income from international students can be used by providers to subsidise the costs of delivering courses to domestic students for whom tuition fees are capped at £9,250.
Domestic students continue to make up the vast majority of students within universities. International students made up only 15% of all undergraduate entrants at UK providers in 2021/22.
It is important that the department promotes a sustainable HE funding system that responds to the needs of the economy and that is fair to students and to taxpayers. The government keeps the HE funding system under continuous review to ensure that this remains the case, and to provide many different opportunities for learners to acquire vital skills.
In 2022/23, the total income of the HE sector in England was £43.9 billion, up from £29.1 billion in 2015/16. Of the £43.9 billion, approximately £16.3 billion was provided by the government. Over the current Spending Review period, the government is investing £1.3 billion in capital funding to support teaching and research.
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: Food, Diet and ObesityFound: International Collaboration: Collaborate with international partners and organisations to share
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Committee: Home Affairs Committee (Department: Home Office)Found: International students are net contributors to the UK economy, with recent research showing they
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: Food, Diet and ObesityFound: The International Code and Resolutions are designed to ensure that all parents receive objective and
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: Food, Diet and ObesityFound: A potential explanation is that, as students gain independence, the purchase of takeaway foods may
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: International students in English universitiesFound: ISU0005 - International students in English universities The University of Law Written Evidence