In July 2023, the UK Government gained Royal Assent for the Illegal Migration Act to be written into Law. Within the new legislation, proposals have identified the entry of international student numbers and in particular, their families, as a problem to the UK’s net migration target. Through barring and limiting avenues into the UK through student visas, the government states that 24% of all sponsored study-related visas granted were to dependants of students, a figure which the government justifies its reasons for curbing and restricting migration. This restriction applies to all international students studying at undergraduate and at master’s levels, excluding postgraduates and post-doctoral researchers.

With debates on the future of international students in the UK becoming all the more prominent and interlinked with the British government’s quest to reduce immigration numbers, we are aware of the need to have this important conversation. International students are valuable members of the UK academic community, present in classrooms as students, teachers, and researchers. ResPublica and King’s College London will bring together experts to discuss key issues surrounding this topic.

Event Schedule

16:30 – Coffee/Tea & Networking
16:50 – Introductory Remarks
17:00 – Panel Discussion
17:50 - Q&A
18:15 – Closing Remarks

Chair

Dr Marius S. Ostrowski

Marius is a social scientist, political philosopher, and historian, leading policy research development for ResPublica’s Lifelong Education Commission. He joined ResPublica in 2022 from the European University Institute, Florence, where he has been uncovering ‘roads not taken’ in the evolution of the ‘European project’. Marius’s policy interests range widely, covering devolution and local empowerment, leveling up skills and productivity, UK–EU geostrategic relations, integrating academic and vocational learning, and new ‘progressive–conservative’ polarisations in society.

Speakers

Lord Johnson

An influential figure in education policy, Lord Johnson served as Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research, and Innovation under three different Prime Ministers between 2015 and 2019, and before that as Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit. Today he maintains a number of roles across the education system, including President’s Professorial Fellow at King’s College, London, Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Fellow of Birkbeck College, London.

Dr Tania Lima

Tania is the Director of Global Engagement at King’s College London, responsible for the university partnerships and country offices; in this role, she leads on partnership strategy, including implementation, delivery, and evaluation, working closely with all Faculties at King’s. She was also the Lead in the PADILEIA project, a partnership to increase access to higher education by Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. Tania was also previously the Assistant Director of Programmes & Operations at Universities UK International.

Prof Steve McGuire

Steve is Dean of the University of Sussex Business School and Professor of Business and Public Policy. He is also a member of the University Executive Team which advises the Vice Chancellor. He has held previous academic appointments at Aberystwyth University, Audencia Nantes School of Management, the College of Europe, and the University of Bath. His research interests are in the areas of international political economy, international business, and corporate political activity.

Co-organiser

ResPublica

ResPublica is one of the country’s most successful public policy think tanks. We have achieved this by being radical in our thought, and persistent in our representations to policymakers, all based on rigorously evidenced proposals. We frequently contribute evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees and our ideas and recommendations have been endorsed by regulators, high-profile commissions, leading commentators, faith leaders, senior civil servants, and entrepreneurs.