HC Deb 18 June 1999 vol 333 cc244-5W
Mr. Coaker

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans there are to promote overseas the quality of further and higher education in the United Kingdom and ease arrangements for international students to enter the United Kingdom and support themselves while studying. [87667]

Mr. Blunkett

My Department has been co-ordinating the Prime Minister's initiative to attract more international students to the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have joined with me to develop a strategy that will help our institutions to compete in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, enhance the image of the UK overseas and help position the UK as a knowledge-driven economy.

The strategy includes four main components. The first is the development of a "UK Education Brand" and marketing materials to promote the high quality of UK education. A world-wide marketing campaign will begin early in 2000. Second, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs aims to expand the Chevening Scholarship Scheme, increasing by at least 500 the number of scholarships awarded each year. Third, we will ease procedures on permission for students to work part-time and in vacations. With effect from 21 June 1999 international students will no longer be required to seek permission from Jobcentres to work part-time and in vacations, and sandwich course students will no longer require a work permit from my Department for their placement year. Fourth, updated guidance notes, designed to make entry requirements clearer, will be available for students and posted on the Internet. The British Council will work with entry clearance posts in a number of countries to streamline the visa application process for students who qualify to come here for study.

Through this package of measures the Government will help UK education institutions to increase their marketing capability overseas and thereby increase international student enrolments. For international students from outside the European Union, the Government hope that these measures will allow institutions to increase the UK's market share of higher education students in relation to the major competitors of USA, Australia and Canada from 17 per cent. in 1996–97 to 25 per cent. in 2005 and to increase the number of further education students by 100 per cent. from some 25,000 in 1996–97 to 50,000 by 2005.