The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) has expressed approval of the UK government’s decision to retain the graduate route for international students in its recently announced immigration white paper. The graduate route allows international students who have completed a degree at the bachelor’s level or higher in the UK to stay and work or search for work for up to two years, or three years for doctoral students. However, the new immigration policy proposes to reduce this period to 18 months, as per a report by The Times of India. Sanam Arora, founder and chair of NISAU told TOI, “We deeply welcome the UK government’s decision to retain the graduate route — a critical element of the UK’s global education offer. While we are saddened by the six-month reduction, alternatives under consideration would have been significantly worse.” She added that the next crucial step is to ensure that any changes to the policy are implemented in a fair, transparent, and student-focused manner.NISAU, which has been advocating for the continuation of the graduate route for over a decade, has worked closely with policymakers from all major political parties, including those in the current government. The organisation highlighted that international students play a key role in funding their education, driving innovation in UK universities, supporting local economies, and fostering international ties.The union also raised concerns about the impact of the reduced graduate route duration on Indian students, who make up the largest group benefiting from this scheme. “For 70% of Indian students, a strong post-study work offer is the single most important factor in deciding where to study abroad,” the press release by NISAU stated.The union welcomed the UK government’s new policy aimed at stricter regulations for education agents. It has recommended a sector-wide cap on agent commissions and mandatory publication of the fees paid to each agent by universities, which would prioritise student interests over financial incentives.NISAU remains optimistic about the UK government’s focus on strengthening immigration routes for global talent, innovators, and high-potential individuals, further boosting opportunities for international students in the UK.(With inputs from TOI)
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