Lords Committee starts inquiry looking at impact of immigration controls on overseas students
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will hold its first evidence session next week for its investigation into the effect immigration reforms may be having on student numbers. The Committee will quiz civil servants from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
The inquiry is looking specifically at the numbers of international students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), and how they may have been influenced by immigration rules.
Next Tuesday 4 February the Committee will put questions to Martin Williams, Director, Office for Life Sciences, International Education Industrial Strategy, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS); Dr Joanne Hodges, Deputy Director, Science and Society, BIS; and Andrew Ray, Deputy Director, Higher Education Analysis, BIS.
Some of the specific questions they will face include:
- How and why have the numbers and demographics of international STEM students in the UK changed since the introduction of policy reforms on immigration in this Parliament?
- Has the competitiveness of UK higher education institutions in terms of attracting international STEM students changed in recent years?
- Are international STEM graduates finding it difficult to pursue employment in the UK after completing their studies at higher education institutions?
The evidence session will be held on Tuesday 4 February at 11.40 am in Committee Room 4 of the House of Lords.
The Committee is still inviting written evidence on the issue, to be received by 20 February 2014.
