By Ola Kay
A number of universities in the United Kingdom, are looking to removing some academic courses based on significant drop in international students’ enrollment, as it is currently impacting negatively on funding of some institutions.
According to The Financial Times of London, Saturday, university authorities had cautioned that the loss of not less that one-third of foreign students threatened to push institutions into loss, forcing them to make “really difficult” cuts such as closing entire courses and reducing the number of teaching staff, as measures part of measures to address the situation.
The report stated that, John Rushforth, who serves as the Executive Secretary of the University Chairs Committee, had expressed concern, saying that: “I have been in higher education for 30 years and senior leaders are more concerned than ever.”
Rushforth also stated that, “bankruptcy is a realistic possibility,” with one in ten universities already cutting staff this year.
He said: “Accepting fewer British students is a last resort but if you are losing something, people have to consider it. We have to analyse everything because the situation is very serious.
“Universities have to think carefully about what they want to protect and make decisions about how to divest things that are not core to the institution. There will be fewer options for students. So, basically, you either have to increase revenue or reduce quality or volume.”
Based on this development, some universities have associated the drop in Nigerian students’ enrollment to the nation’s economic crisis, as the naira continued to deep against the Pound Sterling .
The Financial Times reported in January that enrollment into UK universities had fallen by over a one-third from key countries, including Nigeria and India.
Consequent on the announcement by the UK authorities to stop foreign students from bringing in dependents on their study visas, there was panic among universities that they might fall into deficit.
Early in the year, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak had announced new immigration policies, stopping international graduate students from bringing family members to the UK.
Sunak also stated that the government was reviewing what is termed as “graduate route,” that allowed international students to work in the UK for a maximum period of two years.
About The Author
