It is “hard to imagine” a policy more likely to torpedo the Westminster government’s higher education policy goals than a “mindless crackdown” on international student enrolment, former universities minister Lord Johnson of Marylebone has warned.
After student migration to the UK hit record levels – albeit on the back of pent-up demand that built up during the Covid pandemic – The Times reported that prime minister Rishi Sunak was considering allowing only “elite” universities to recruit overseas learners.
Lord Johnson told Times Higher Education that other countries “look with envy at the UK’s appeal to global talent” and that it would be reckless to squander this.
