The United Kingdom is planning to introduce mandatory annual
English proficiency tests for migrant graduates entering the country via the
Graduate Route. This policy shift is part of a broader strategy aimed at
combatting potential labor exploitation of international students. Here are the
key points:
This move comes after news that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
plans to stop British universities from offering low-quality postgraduate
courses to foreign students, as there is concern that these courses are being
used as a way to enter the UK4. Overall, the UK aims to strike a balance
between attracting talent and ensuring language proficiency among migrant
graduates. Here are the key points:
- Graduate
Route: The Graduate Route allows foreign students to work in the UK
for two years after they graduate from a UK university or
college.
- New
English Test Requirement: Under the new rules, migrant graduates will
need to take mandatory English tests every year to
demonstrate their language proficiency.
- Best
and Brightest: The goal is to ensure that only highly proficient
English speakers remain in the UK. This change is part of the government’s
effort to retain the best and brightest graduates.
- Impact
on Institutions: Universities and colleges with high dropout rates may
lose the ability to recruit international students. Additionally, the Home
Office will target recruiting agents who mislead foreign students into
leaving their degrees for low-paying jobs.
- Tightening
Immigration Rules: The revised Graduate Route scheme is part of
broader efforts to tighten immigration controls and maintain high
educational standards34.
Overall, the UK aims to strike a
balance between attracting talent and ensuring language proficiency among
migrant graduates.
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