Tackling immigration bureaucracy and visa costs could allow the UK to attract and retain the best research talent from around the world, cementing the country’s position – highlighted again in the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) results – as a global science and innovation superpower.
Universities UK (UUK) has lodged a report with the Home Office, highlighting how visa fees of more than £15,000 for a researcher and their family to come to the UK is just one of the problems academics and researchers face when trying to progress their careers in the UK.
The UK Government’s own research suggests the UK must attract an additional 150,000 researchers and technicians if it is to have the workforce needed to manage the government’s ambitious target to increase investment in research and development to 2.4% of GDP by 2027.
With international talent vital in meeting this target, UUK highlights significant feedback from universities and their international staff that the most expensive visa arrangements in the world could hamper UK universities from unlocking their significant potential to support the government’s targets.
Its analysis comes just weeks after the Home Office announced further visa fee increases, further adding to years of cumulative crises.
While warmly welcoming some recent immigration reforms such as the Global Talent visa, international graduate route improvements and a refreshed GREAT campaign to attract overseas talent, the UUK report argues that further policy changes must be made if the UK is to meet the government’s ambitions.
Issues universities are raising with the Home Office include:
To overcome these obstacles and to support and encourage talented researchers to come and to stay working in the UK, Universities UK is asking the Home Office to take a range of steps including:
The findings of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) published last week demonstrate a high level of world-leading research in the UK. A research environment that is dynamic, inclusive and financially sustainable will be key to attracting and retaining the talented researchers who have helped to achieve that.
The government has taken some welcome steps recently to make the UK more attractive to international research talent. We think they can go even further, and that doing so will contribute to making the UK one of the most exciting places in the world to pursue a research career.
Simple steps to ease the financial and bureaucratic burden for applicants could make a massive difference to individual decision making, and help make the UK a magnet for talent.
Vivienne Stern MBE
Director, Universities UK International
