ABS Response to the UK Border Agency student immigration consultation

Prof. Angus Laing, Chairman of the ABS and Dean of Business and Economics at Loughborough University says:

"Business Schools make an important contribution to the UK economy through the graduates they produce for the business community and the income they generate through international students studying in the UK. There is a very real danger to both the performance of UK businesses who value such graduates as an important asset in developing their international business and the international earnings of business schools if the visa system makes it increasingly difficult for international students to come to the UK and continue in the UK on completion of their studies. In the longer term this will undermine the competitiveness and standing of British business schools internationally at a time when other countries, including many EU members delivering programmes in English, are posing increasing challenges in the international business education market."

Thus there is the potential for the UK to be perceived as out of step with major international competitors and therefore generally anti International students and faculty members however bona fide. Since most Universities are increasingly reliant financially on International students there are serious financial risks to Universities generally and our highly popular UK Business Schools and the £2.5 billion per annum they are currently achieving in terms of invisible earnings.

        
Notes to editors:

To arrange an interview with either Jonathan or Angus please contact Vicky Robinson.

Information on the consultation can be found at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/consultations/students/

1. ABS is the authorative voice of business and management education in and for the UK.
 The ABS represents all of the business schools in the UK. Collectively, they provide business and  management education for over 250,000 students a year.

 ABS works with similar organisations in Europe and around the world to influence those who have an  involvement or interest in business and management education.     

ABS is a member of The European Quality Link (EQUAL) - the international association of quality assessment  and accreditation agencies in the field of European management education at the Brussels - based European  Foundation for Management Development (Efmd).
 
ABS is a registered charity (founded in 1992) with income derived through annual subscriptions, projects  and other activities.

2. HESA statistics confirm that in 2008/09 there were 61,321 students from outside the EU studying at UK  business schools.

3. UK business schools consistently rank among the best in the world, with ten in the top 50 Financial Times  Global MBA rankings for 2010. Maintaining this reputation for excellence is key for the continued success  of our postgraduate business programmes, and requires the ability to attract and retain the highest  quality business professionals to its programmes.

For further information please contact Victoria Robinson, Head of Marketing and Communications, The Association of Business Schools. Tel: 020 7388 0007. Email: vrobinson@the-abs.org.uk or see: www.the-abs.org.uk