British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is preparing to announce measures aimed at curbing the activities of recruitment agents who provide misleading information to international students, particularly in markets such as India. Additionally, there are considerations to modify the Graduate Route visa scheme, which is popular among Indian students, to limit visas to only the "best and the brightest."
Sunak's proposed crackdown on educational recruiters is part of efforts to reduce the number of international students coming to study in the UK. The new measures, expected to be unveiled soon, coincide with the release of quarterly migration data from the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics.
While there have been concerns about the use of recruitment agents in certain markets providing misleading information to prospective international students, a government report found no significant abuse of the Graduate Route visa scheme. However, there is apprehension within the international student community due to the uncertainty surrounding the review of the visa program, leading to a drop in applications to UK universities.
Indian nationals constitute a significant proportion of Graduate Route visas, with India alone accounting for over 40% of them. However, there has been a decline in applications from India, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the visa program.
Sunak's proposed measures include the introduction of a mandatory agent registration scheme and fines for malpractice. There are also discussions about modifying the graduate visa scheme to restrict visas to only high-quality students. However, this approach has faced resistance from some cabinet members, who are concerned about the potential negative impact on the financial situation of universities.
While there is acknowledgment of the need to address abuses by recruitment agents, there are concerns about limiting access to the scheme based on student quality or the degrees they pursue. Critics argue that focusing only on the "best and the brightest" may be misguided and could undermine the competitiveness of the UK's higher education sector.
Overall, the proposed measures reflect the government's efforts to address concerns about immigration while balancing the interests of universities and businesses, as well as the need to maintain the UK's reputation as a welcoming destination for international students.
