I was incredibly pleased to hear the speech that our new Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, delivered at the Embassy Education Conference yesterday.
In it she sought to ‘set the record straight on international students’, stating in very clear terms that international students are welcome in the UK.
At Greenwich we are proud to be a global university, proud to welcome students from around the world to our UK campuses and proud to work with numerous partners to educate students in countries across the globe.
International students make huge contributions to the universities and regions they join. This includes a financial contribution to local economies but also by contributing research, helping to facilitate cultural exchange and building the UK’s soft power.
It was hugely reassuring to hear the Secretary of State’s recognition of international students’ contributions to art, music, culture and sport in towns and cities around the UK and her intention to build bridges between nations and put education ‘at the forefront of national life.’
I welcome the Government’s commitment to enable graduates to remain in the UK to work after they graduate and Ms Phillipson’s acknowledgement that students come to the UK for a world class education.
As we look ahead to a new academic year in September, I am incredibly pleased that we will be supported to continue to welcome international students to Greenwich and the UK more widely.
You can read the full and very welcome transcript of the speech .
Jane Harrington
Vice-Chancellor and CEO, Çï¿ûÊÓƵ
