A new study has found that a single cohort of international students will contribute a whopping £3.2 billion to the UK economy over 10 years through income tax and National Insurance payments – but the government is nonetheless proposing more restrictions on post-study work visas.

The report, conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kaplan International Pathways (Kaplan), also found that international students are also finding graduate jobs in sectors with acute skills shortages – debunking the idea that they could be taking jobs that would otherwise be held by UK students.

The amounts don’t take into account tuition fees, which also inject billions every year into the economy. The report found that EU students contribute £1.2 billion, while non-EU students contribute £2 billion, and contributions also varied across different study levels, with master’s graduates contributing the most, at £1.6 billion.

The impact of post-study work visa restrictions

The report also found that the government’s decision to scrap post-study work visas in 2012 (which previously allowed international graduates to stay in the UK for up to two years) has actually cost the country around £150 million a year. In order to stay and work in the UK after graduation, international (non-EU) graduates currently have just four months after the end of their course to apply for a Tier 2 General Work Visa by getting a job that pays at least £20,800 per year, or by finding sponsorship as an entrepreneur.

And although the number of international students in the UK continues to rise year on year, it’s not nearly as fast-growing as the number of overseas students coming to other English-speaking study destinations such as Canada or Australia, with both perhaps perceived to offer more welcoming post-study work visa options.

With the UK’s exit from the European Union looming, and warnings that employers could miss out on talented, skilled graduates who help to fill skill gaps in fields like engineering, technology and medicine, university leaders have called on the government to introduce a new work visa to allow international students to stay longer after graduation, to send a more welcoming message. Under the proposal, graduates would be sponsored by their university rather than an employer, and be able to stay for up to two years on a more flexible basis than the current Tier 2 visa.

However, proposals from the government’s White Paper, published in December 2018, actually show that there are plans to restricting work visas further by setting the minimum required salary threshold to £30,000. International graduates would however be given six months rather than four to find a job after graduating (12 months for doctoral graduates) – a minor extension, but one that would be welcomed nonetheless.

UK Universities: #WeAreInternational

The report was welcomed by both the National Union of Students (NUS) and the #WeAreInternational campaign, which was launched in 2013 by the University of Sheffield to celebrate and emphasize the importance of diversity in the university’s student and staff, in response to concerns from international students about negative media coverage and some political statements on immigration in the UK.

Within this campaign, the university points out that the contribution of international students goes far  beyond their financial value, with their research demonstrating that these students are also well ingrained in the city’s life, working and volunteering in hospitals, charities and schools as well as enriching Sheffield’s culture with music, food, dance and language events throughout the year.

A spokesperson for the UK-wide #WeAreInternationalcampaign said: “This report underpins the case to reinstate the competitive post-study work rights for which students themselves have long lobbied.

“Far from the idea that international students who undertake a period of work after their courses should be discouraged, we now know international graduates are a national asset. It is in our interest and theirs to make sure our visa system reflects that.”

What’s your opinion on the report’s findings? Let us know in the comments below.

Sponsored by emlyon business school

The management landscape is constantly changing so it’s important those who wish to pursue a career in management are ready for the varying changes, challenges and opportunities that come with the field.

Read on to find out why the skills you earn in a degree are also important when it comes to graduate life.

Develop a highly transferable skillset

As a graduate you should be able to successfully transfer the skills and knowledge you’ve developed throughout your master’s in management degree into a new job with ease and confidence.

Forward planning and strategic thinking skills

Being innovative means being able to plan ahead while maintaining a level head. Strategy and planning are embedded in every organization’s business and marketing plan, so those who work in management should be able to devise and implement plans which will help the company achieve targets or overcome any issues. In other words, you should know what it is you want to achieve, and you should therefore know how you’re going to achieve it.

Creative thinking skills

As well as having an analytical mindset where decisions and plans are scrutinized at every possible level, you’ll need to be able to think creatively and not be afraid to tap into your imagination – something which the MSc in Management at emlyon business school encourages its students to do. 

Finding creative solutions is what today’s management landscape is all about, particularly as companies and businesses are having to incorporate new and untested digital technologies into their operations. Managers who can embrace these evolving technologies and make them work successfully will avoid being left behind by their competitors.

Interpersonal skills

Despite the rapid advancements in new technologies, one of the most sought-after skills by employers is the ability to work well with other people. Understanding and conveying genuine emotional intelligence shouldn’t be under-estimated.

The ability to communicate in an empathetic manner is a skill which you’ll pick up naturally throughout your studies – from having to liaise and collaborate with your fellow classmates on a group project, to giving a presentation in front of the class and even discussing thesis ideas with your university lecturer.

It’s important you possess good interpersonal skills because when it comes to the world of work, you’re going to have to discuss ideas, problems and solutions with your colleagues. And if you have clients, you’re going to have to ensure your ability to communicate professionally is top-notch.

Teamwork skills

As is often said – teamwork makes the dream work! This is a key skill which you’ll have picked up way before university, but that’s not to say your degree won’t have a helping hand in honing in on your ability to work in a team even further.

MSc in Management students at emlyon business school are actively encouraged to work collectively by sharing ideas and mobilizing resources with each other.

Commercial awareness

Finally, demonstrating good commercial awareness is a key attribute that’s highly attractive to employers all over the world.

Having a good sense of commercial awareness can come from anywhere and everywhere. Universities often promote commercial awareness through their specialized degree programs and modules, while you can ensure you’re up-to-date on the latest commercial news and trends by reading the news and sites like TopUniversities.com.

Get a sense for what your interests really are

This can help get you on the right track when it comes to gaining all-important work experience. Business schools and universities around the world are beginning to offer students the chance to undertake internships as part of the curriculum in order to take what they’ve learnt in the classroom and apply it to a real-life setting.

For example, students who study the MSc in Management European Triple Degree Grande Ecole at emlyon business school embark on a specialization year at the end of their first-year studies in one of the world’s most highly desirable sectors: corporate development, strategy and change, marketing or corporate finance.

This worldwide outlook offered by emlyon business school means students gain a truly global perspective of what it’s like to work in an international market and its varying dynamics.

Find a career in management that’s right for you

Management roles are incredibly diverse and, as we’ve previously mentioned, depending on your interests, knowledge and experience the role you wish to pursue is more than likely to reflect that.

From marketing to finance, digital to purchasing & supply chain, strategy to consulting or human resources, the possibilities are almost endless when it comes to a career in management – along with the ability to take the skills you acquired throughout your degree.

Sponsored by UCL Institute of Education

From educational neuroscience to engineering education, the masters’ degrees offered by leading education faculties are exceptionally varied. In a changing world, how can an education master’s degree help you adapt and respond to future challenges, and what career options does it open, both for teachers and those in other professions?

We spoke to UCL Institute of Education who are currently ranked world number one for the sixth consecutive year in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 for Education to find out more.

Learning as a way of life

The most important skills teachers learn as they qualify are those of deep critical reflection. For example, why did a certain tactic work with 14-year-olds but not with 16-year-olds? What happened just before that child finally understood? These are the skills teachers use every day in the classroom which can also transfer to every other aspect of their career development.

Some teachers choose to study the latest innovations in teaching their subject, while others specialize in the educational needs of a particular age group. Many explore the principles of leadership, the role of technology in education, or any of the other complex demands a teacher will face over the course of a career. By immersing themselves in the latest research and refreshing their own learning, teachers future-proof not only their own skills but also those of their students, as each generation grows up to meet its own challenges and opportunities.

Education as a tool for leading change

Change within any industry must be matched by the education of its practitioners. In many cases, it’s education that leads the way, creating the space for new ideas to be explored and developing the skills needed to implement them. Some institutions now offer master’s degrees in specific branches of professional education, designed to enable scientists, engineers and other professionals to equip their organisations for the future.

Entrepreneurs are also increasingly developing educational products that support the industry’s need to adapt to new circumstances, including those pioneering new forms of artificial intelligence in education. For these people, a specialist education master’s can be the first step towards a rewarding new career, and for the companies that employ them or use their products, education equips them to stay at the forefront of global markets.

Education is at the forefront of global development 

The role of education in international development, gender relations, health promotion, conflict resolution and social justice make it a vital tool for governments and third sector organisations in improving the lives of the communities they serve. Master’s programs that combine education with each of these disciplines have established the careers of top policy-makers and charity leaders worldwide.

Education as a means to improve lives

At the level of the individual, a range of disciplines that combine education with psychology are breaking new ground in supporting individuals to achieve their full potential, including child development, educational psychology, educational neuroscience and special and inclusive education. Drawing on the latest research, a master’s degree in any of these fields can open up an exceptionally fulfilling new career.

Education for all

Who should consider a master’s degree in education? Everyone and anyone! The field attracts students from wide range of backgrounds, including recent undergraduate students, teachers, psychologists, computer scientists, non-governmental organization workers and others who have gained experience from a variety of different sectors.  The breadth of content and continual innovation is what makes studying a master’s in education exciting, challenging and rewarding. 

It’s no secret that fewer women choose to study computer science (or other STEM subjects) than men. In the UK last year, only 0.4 percent of girls chose to study computer science at A Level, which obviously has a knock-on impact at university and in the workplace. Only 24 percent of STEM roles in the UK are held by women, and according to STEM Women, only 15 percent of computer science graduates were female in 2016/17.

All the statistics make it clear: there are still far too few women in STEM. But what can be done about it? We had a chat with Sue Black, a Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University, to find out what she thought on this topic.

Increasing female participation

Black, who’s been named one of the most influential and inspiring women in computer science, has more than 20 years’ experience in academia and technology to her name, and has also spent the last two decades campaigning for more acknowledgement and support for women in tech.

She’s aiming to up the number of female staff and students at Durham and told us about a recent trip to Los Angeles in which she spoke to representatives from Harvey Mudd College and UCLA, two institutions which have made great strides in increasing the amount of female students.

There, she gained insight into methods which will now be implemented at Durham. She told us: “We’re now going to work on having a module at the beginning of the computer science degree that helps students to see where the theoretical aspects of computing fit into the real world and the ways technology can be applied.

“From October we’ll also be getting lots of external speakers to come in from local companies to talk about what they’re doing in technology, and of course at least half of those speakers will be women, because I think role models are really important.”

Durham, which is currently ranked within the top 300 universities in the world for computer science according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019, also runs a female students in computer science group, which invites external speakers and allows female students to meet up regularly and bond with each other. As well as offering social support outside of the classroom, the university also offers a scholarship for female computer science students of any nationality: the Anne-Marie Imafidon Scholarships for Women in Technology.  

Making tech less intimidating

Black’s certainly made her mark on the tech world over the years. In 1998, she set up the UK’s first online network for women in tech, BSCWomen, which provides networking opportunities for women in computer science around the world.

Black says she was inspired to set up BSCWomen after attending a Women in Science conference in Brussels. At the event, she realized she loved networking with other women in tech and wanted a way to keep those connections going. She said: “Even if we didn’t meet in person, at least we could now chat online, because it was quite rare to meet up with lots of women at one time in public.

“Whereas, with the group, which had several hundred members straight away, there was a whole group of women who were interested in talking about technology with each other.”

Like many young women, I never considered studying a degree in computer science, feeling it was an incredibly difficult and complicated subject mainly involving coding. But Black says this is part of the problem – there’s a bit of misunderstanding regarding what computer science actually is, and people don’t realize how exciting it can be.

“I’ve always found computer science ridiculously exciting, there are so many opportunities and different jobs in technology. One of the main misconceptions is that it’s all about being a coder. Of course, we need people writing code, but that’s such a small percentage of the computer science jobs out there. There are so many other jobs, for example in cybersecurity, data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence.”

Spreading the word about female role models

One reason often given for the lack of female interest in computer science and technology is the lack of obvious female role models for young women to look up to. However, Black argues the problem isn’t a lack of role models, it’s the fact these women are so often overlooked compared to men in the sector.

She said: “There are loads of women out there who have started companies that have done amazing things in technology, but I’m sure if you ask people on the street about technology pioneers, they’ll still talk about Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates.”

She gives Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley as an example. Shirley set up one of the UK’s first software houses, which was responsible for programming Concorde’s black box flight recorder. She wanted to create opportunities for women with children, and predominantly employed women until the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 made this illegal.

Sue said: “I would argue she’s even more of a pioneer than Bill Gates, because she had women working at home producing top-notch software, before Bill Gates and all the others came along. She’s now one of the UK’s major philanthropists, and yet most people have never heard of her.”

Lifting up the next generation

Entering a traditionally male-dominated environment has plenty of challenges of course, but Black is keen for young women to not be daunted by the idea of being a role model for the next generation of female students.

Instead, she says being a role model should be embraced rather than feared: “Don’t think of it as a burden, think of it as an opportunity. One of the most amazing things that’s happened to me is that I’ve ended up becoming a role model without even realizing that it’s happening.

“Almost every day now I get someone saying to me ‘I heard you speak two years ago and now I’ve done this because you encouraged me and said that you can do it, just go for it.’ So, it’s actually lovely and a great opportunity to be a role model, it’s not a burden at all.”

Black seems poised to become a role model for even more young women, having recently been announced as the Women’s Equality Party’s candidate in next year’s elections for Mayor of London. She said she wants her campaign to highlight how important equality and government support really are, pointing to her own experience of living in a women’s refuge as a single mother of three children when she was 25.

With support from the state, Black was able to go back into education, pursue her current career and build a better life for her children. If women’s refuges, social housing, childcare support and maintenance grants hadn’t been available she wouldn’t be where she is today.

Reflecting on this, she told us: “There are lots of people in situations where you need the state to support you to help you to maximize your potential. And if you don’t have those things, it would stop millions of people from achieving their potential, which in the long term isn’t good for any of us.”

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

Sponsored by Duke Kunshan University

In a world where plastic pollution, air pollution and climate change are all on the rise, so is the popularity of environmental degree programs. With a predicted job growth of 11 percent for environmental specialists between 2016 and 2026, the demand for those who have a well-rounded skillset and interdisciplinary knowledge to help combat the world’s most pressing challenges is also intensifying. But what job roles can you expect to find?

Getting your foot on the environmental career ladder

There’s an affinity of diverse environmental job roles out there which can be matched to both your interests and academic experience. Taking up an internship may even be the key to helping you get one step closer to figuring out exactly what it is that you would like to do – as two Master in Environmental Policy students at Duke Kunshan University in China discovered.

“The internships showed me how to apply the knowledge I learnt in class to the real world. They also enlightened my research; I got the idea for my master project from my internship in a corporate social responsibility consulting company,” said Xiaolin Xie, who interned at Syntao in Shanghai China.

“I also learned how to communicate and perform in business, how to solve problems efficiently and how to organize work when facing multiple tasks,” she said.

Whilst US student, Julie Mao, who undertook an internship at the US Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Quality Management recognized the importance of soft skills within the workplace: “I think the soft skills which I learned during my internship will benefit me in my future career more than the technical skills, such as learning how to effectively communicate my ideas to upper management and how to work with various stakeholders on certain projects.

At BLM, I learned to manage various stakeholder's conflicting interests on a project to provide a solution that best benefited each party. This opportunity allowed me to work with the public, private and social sectors, which will benefit my future career as I’ll be working with a myriad of individuals, companies, and organizations.”

A worthwhile experience then!

Five possible career paths

Green degrees such as the master’s in environmental policy are here to stay, and careers within the sector even more so. Although the opportunity to pursue one of the following careers may vary depending on your experience, the area you work in and your specialized skillset, the career outlook in environmental rights and public policy is both promising and rewarding.

Environmental policy analyst

This is one of the most apparent career paths you could pursue with a master’s in environmental policy. It’s where your passion for protecting the environment will really shine and can be an incredibly varied role with opportunities to work across sectors at all levels – from non-government organizations to county councils.

It’s also a very fast-moving job where policies are having to constantly be re-considered. It’s therefore your responsibility as an environmental policy analyst to investigate data trends to design and implement objective policies to help combat problematic environmental issues, from water pollution to climate change.

Ocean and coastal resource manager

Ocean and coastal resource managers work to conserve and manage the world’s coastlines for future generations to enjoy.

You’ll need good communication skills and the ability to manage teams of people as well as resources, as the protection of ocean and coastal resources depends on several environmental, financial and social factors.

Ocean and coastal resource management is a niche area to move into and pursuing a career may depend on your experience as some positions will require specialized marine qualifications. However, a master’s in environmental policy can provide the foundations necessary to acquire the technical acumen to get started.

Conservation scientist

Credit: Duke Kunshan University

If you love the outdoors, then you’ll love the fact conservation scientists spend more time outside of the office than inside it.

This role involves working to protect and conserve natural resources with the intention of developing a positive symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. In order to do this, conservation scientists conduct necessary field research in order to determine the ecological impact created by humans, before creating solutions which aim to help restore and protect these disrupted environments.

Environmental engineer

Are you an excellent problem solver? How are your scientific skills? Do you have a creative mindset? If so, a career in environmental engineering could be for you.

As an environmental engineer, you’ll have the desire to ensure sustainability is at the forefront of every organization’s mind, as you develop innovative technological solutions in order to overcome some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as urbanization, deforestation and climate change.

Some positions may require additional engineering experience or qualifications.

Sustainability consultant

If you’ve got a keen interest in understanding how business works and want to combine this with your passion for sustainability, then a career as a sustainable consultant may be ideal for you.

You’ll carry out environmental impact surveys and assess numerous factors such as noise pollution, air pollution, water pollution, energy consumption as well as carbon footprint emissions in order to advise companies on how they can become more sustainable in the most cost-effective way possible.

Therefore, you’ll need to be skilled in leadership and project management, as well as having excellent communication skills.