Thousands of bright, enthusiastic students come to the UK every year. They study at our universities, volunteer in our communities and work in the economy.
Their families visit our best tourist attractions. Their research contributes to scientific breakthroughs. Their annual economic impact to Sheffield’s economy is estimated around £120m.
Politicians target foreign students to meet pledges to cut immigration. Work experience is curtailed and they are included in immigration figures as if they are long-term migrants to the UK.
Ministers expect universities to act as immigration officers. Foreign students have been forced to leave the UK before completing courses they had paid for. We don’t want to see that in Sheffield.
Colleges found it harder to recruit after Ministers closed courses and prohibited teaching. Immigration officers gave students 60 days to find a new university or college or face deportation. Only fools propose to repeat a mistake and expect a different outcome.
Even now, Ministers accuse foreign students of abusing the system. Without exit checks, politicians can’t prove how many enrolled students left the UK when they should have and so any allegations are just born out of political expediency.
We don’t want students to return home remembering a Government pandering to xenophobes. Especially not now when Britain needs to make new friends in the world. Some world leaders studied in the UK and we want future leaders to carry on doing so.
We have to stand up for international students. We must be at the forefront of combating the Conservatives’ destructive Brexit vision. Our generation of young people and mature students know what is at stake in this election.
International students are the most effective recruiters for universities. The International Student Barometer highlighted how students currently here help our universities compete.
6,500 of Sheffield University students are from overseas. Most would recommend Sheffield University to study. Hallam’s 4000 foreign students are most satisfied with their learning experience.
The University of Sheffield also won an “excellent” rating by the Studyportals International Student Satisfaction Survey. But universities in Norway, Ireland, Poland and Finland beat the UK for student satisfaction. Sheffield is left behind due to UK policy.
Freedom of Movement is at risk from Brexit. The Government wishes to bring down immigration by any means necessary. Foreign students are easy targets to bring net migration down. Only after Brexit can the Government crack down on EU students too.
A Tory Brexit would make it harder for businesses to hire students hurting the local economy. The Young Greens are working with Educating Beyond Borders to protect international students rights.
The rights of international students are at risk. Party candidates should engage students before they take the wrong message from voters and extend the threat to EU nationals after Brexit.
The Young Greens have stood up for the rights of migrants in a hostile political climate. We want a dialogue between MPs and international students.
We urge you to back candidates who support the rights of International students. Natalie is herself a migrant who chose to build a life in Britain. Natalie will champion the rights of international students and defend the benefits they bring to Sheffield and this country.
She told the Tab: “many cities like Sheffield are heavily dependent on international students”. Places foreign students live are stronger with them. University courses are more stable with foreign students participating.
Every vote counts by June 8th, so will you use yours?
