At Swansea University, we have always been justifiably proud of our diverse community of students and staff, who bring with them experiences and perspectives from countries across the world. It is our mission to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment here in Swansea, which promotes and celebrates the many benefits of internationalisation and of Wales.
In keeping with the rest of the Higher Education sector in the UK we are, however, not immune to UK Government policy and rhetoric on immigration, which often neglects the considerable contribution of international students and staff to the national and local economy. It is highly regrettable that the sector as a whole is already experiencing the impact of changes to UK student visa regulations which came into effect in January this year, and that UK Government has now commissioned a further rapid review of the Graduate visa route, which is expected to conclude in May.
In response, I am keen to offer an alternative viewpoint, emphasising our pride in supporting international students and celebrating their achievements, while recognising the pivotal role they play in the success of our nation and the significant decision they make in choosing to study and work in the UK.
It is important to note the substantial contribution of international students and staff to the national and local economy. According to research conducted by Universities UK and others, international students alone contribute a staggering £42 billion to the UK economy annually. Even when accounting for the cost to public services, the total net benefit of international students studying in the UK remains at £37 billion. Here in Wales, our international students are estimated to have contributed £1.3 billion in 2021/22 alone, with each Welsh parliamentary constituency £31 million better off on average because of students choosing to live and study in our regions.
Beyond these financial benefits, our diverse international students also contribute significantly to our community in so many other ways. For example, in Swansea, through initiatives like 'Go Social,' our international students have an effective platform to fully integrate within our local community, while many of our international students engage in giving back through volunteering with our Discovery volunteering project.
Welcoming talented international students is a privilege, and many utilise their time with us as a launchpad for impactful endeavours. Swansea University currently boasts some 50,000 international alumni, with many of them achieving remarkable success. For example, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi was named the British Council’s StudyUK Global Winner for Social Action 2023, while Alfred Oyekoya received an MBE in the New Year Honours list 2024. More widely, we have a number of alumni who are working at ministerial level within other countries, in addition to our many international alumni who are business owners, founders, partners or managing directors.
The Graduate visa route is a key determining factor for many students who choose to study here in Wales and across the UK. This post-study work offer enables international students to stay for two or three years following their studies. Many take up skilled opportunities, while others contribute to important gaps in our labour market that need bolstering. Some choose not to work in the UK and return home or move on to other countries. The visa was introduced in 2021 to meet UK Government’s own ambitious aim to host at least 600,000 international students in the UK each year. Since then, international student recruitment has delivered a boost of more than £60 billion to our economy. I share the concerns of many within our sector that possible changes to this visa route will not only cause irreparable damage to the UK’s attractiveness as a study destination overseas, but will also seriously harm the financial sustainability of higher education and our wider economy. We are yet in a position to fully assess the impact of the recent introduction of this visa, not only to our sector but to employers and businesses of all shapes and sizes across the UK; making changes to it at this early stage risks creating instability both for our education and private sectors.
We are already witnessing the damage caused by the recent announcements made by UK Government, which paint a general picture that the UK is now less welcoming of international students; the UK’s long-standing reputation as a study destination of excellence globally is now at serious risk. In Wales, we are proud to be an internationally-facing nation which embraces the role we play on the global stage and, in today’s hyper-connected society, it is vitally important that universities continue to foster environments that facilitate learning, living, and socialising across diverse cultures and societies. As universities, we must be steadfast in championing the significant benefits of internationalisation to our regions and countries; there is too much at stake for both our sector and our communities to do otherwise.