APPG Calls for Regional Focus on International Students’ Economic Impact
2 Min Read
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students has urged the government to adopt a comprehensive regional approach to international education, stressing that the economic case for welcoming overseas students is “overwhelming”.
According to the group’s latest report, higher education is now the largest export industry in 26 UK parliamentary constituencies and ranks among the top three exports in more than 100 constituencies. Despite this, international education remains largely absent from regional growth strategies.
Co-chairs Lord Karan Bilimoria and Abtisam Mohamed MP argued that this is a “missed opportunity”, noting that international students not only study at the UK universities but also contribute directly to local economies through housing, retail, volunteering, and filling critical skills shortages in sectors such as healthcare and technology.
The APPG report calls for devolved regions to establish their own international education strategies aligned with national objectives. It also recommends that the Graduate Route visa remain at two years to allow employers sufficient time to offer meaningful work opportunities. The group further urges Skills England to strengthen pathways below degree level to meet regional skills demands.
Detailed regional data on students, dependants, and post-study employment should also be made available, the report advises, in order to help local authorities measure the true economic impact of student migration.
With the UK government expected to release a refreshed international education strategy in the coming months, the APPG’s findings come at a critical time. The recommendations follow the immigration white paper’s proposal to shorten the Graduate Route from two years to 18 months—a move critics argue would weaken the UK’s competitiveness in attracting global talent.
The report concludes that while London might absorb a fall in student numbers, cities such as Manchester, Sheffield, and Exeter would face severe disruption. Regional analysis highlights that every £1 million in university revenue generates between £2.3 and £2.5 million in local economic output, underscoring the sector’s pivotal role in supporting jobs and growth across the UK.
Source: THE PIE NEWS THE INDIAN EXPRESS
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