link you posted does not match the thread.*
--
Regarding cutting the number of international students: its a huge huge mistake if they go in that direction. As a country we should be looking to maximize our valuable assets, not restrict. I work as an educational consultant in china, and well to put it simply, everyone wants to come here. those that don't, do not because of piratical reasons.. canada is easier, america cheaper, Australia is closer. etc. But most view england as the destination that they would love to study in 'if they could'.*
We should be looking to maximize our international students, and use them as a huge boost of revenue to jack up our universities budgets to give us some of the largest and best institutes in the world (even more so then we have already). Ofcourse it needs to be managed to not hurt british students.. but we should be capitalising hugely on one of the few areas where we truly have a great global reputation.*
The problems with immigration come from the lower end, and these should be correctly worked on - reducing the number of fake students who come here just to get into the country. But we should be making it easier and easier for the upper end, top quality students with enough money to pay for it, to come here..
A good number of the rich chinese students who choose canada because their visa system has the reputation for being easier and cheaper, should instead be coming to england and pooring money into our education system and wider enconomy. *