For the past year, I have been privileged to lead a global provider of international education. We work with universities around the world to help increase global participation and I am deeply proud of the outstanding education taken up by students ambitious for their studies and their futures.
Most of our students are aiming to be successful undergraduates and more than half of them come from the Far East. Almost all of those return home on completion of their studies, or after a short period of post-degree work experience to put into practice what they have learned. The same is true for most of our students from the Middle East and, although South Asian students are the most likely of our international cohorts to consider staying in the UK, many of ours will return home too.
The opportunity for all of these students to stay in their study destination country for a period of post-study work is critical, as it provides an important opportunity to cement their understanding and experience, enhance their careers and mitigate the costs of study. A few are even working on the front line of our public services as nurses, doctors and allied health professionals at a time where such help is badly required post-Covid. Here in the UK, they all contribute to the economy not only as students through their fees but as graduates through their taxes.
