Student Visas centre stage for Joint Parliamentary University Conference

The conference comes as a follow-up to the Home Affairs Select Committee's Student Visa Report published in March 2011.

The conference takes place at Regent's University London from 10am to 4pm.

Conference themes

Themes at the Conference include:

• The progress and administration of migration to Student Visas
• Safeguarding the future of the UK knowledge economy
• The economic benefits of overseas students
• The impact of UK student visa policy abroad
• Requirement of a Secure English language Test
• The UK and international market in Higher Education

Chair's comments

Keith Vaz, Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, said:

"This is the right time to review the Committee's work on student visas. International students contribute over £4.4 billion to the British economy. There are 425,265 international students studying in the UK and it is the classic example of British soft power. Whilst students from China increased in the last few years, students from India have decreased. We need an immigration policy that is fair, open and transparent and will attract the best and brightest."

The conference has attracted representatives from more than 80 universities around the UK and more than 50 embassies accredited to the UK. The keynote speakers are Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the former Prime Minister of Spain and Mr James Brokenshire MP, the Minister for Immigration. Other delegates include vice chancellors from other universities, stakeholders, employers, and think tanks.

For further information please contact Natalia Proctor on 0207 219 4104 or visaseminar2014@gmail.com.