About the session
International scientists and engineers are critical for the UK to compete globally and the need for skills is central to most of the key issues for science and innovation. Our market-driven higher education system is not able to deliver the skills needed and is, in fact, reliant in many areas on international students and academics. We are losing our historic advantage of being English-speaking, as other countries captialise on the international education market. It is vital that the UK maintains its quality and reputation. Problems with the new points-based visa systems must be resolved, to provide free flow of individuals, but, at the same time, the skills resources of developing nations should not be exploited. The problems that the UK faces are global in nature and require global solutions and cannot be solved without international collaboration.
