UK science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses are increasingly being taken by international students likely to return home after graduation. This is prompting fears of a future skills shortage in the UK, especially with post-study work rights for international students now severely limited. A new report has revealed that the UK is not producing enough science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) graduates to drive much-needed economic growth. Instead, STEM courses are increasingly being taken by international students – the majority of whom will not enter the labour market – prompting fears the UK will face a skills shortage in years to come.
The report, by the independent think tank
CIVITAS, focused on STEM disciplines as they are integral to boosting a country’s manufacturing and exports. It found that in all four groups of STEM subjects taught at British universities, the number of overseas students had grown at a faster rate than the number of British students between 1996/97 and 2006/7.
In total, there were 33,298 more computer science students in the UK in 2006/07 than in 1996/97, but international students accounted for 41.7% of this rise. Meanwhile, the number of British engineering and technology students actually fell by 5,769 during the period, while the number of overseas students increased by 12,308 (accounting for 30% of the total).
The report also found that an increasing majority of international students taking STEM subjects were from outside the EU, rising to 70 per cent in 2006/7.
“If a growing number of overseas students from outside the EU are filling an increasing proportion of STEM places in British universities and a significant proportion of them return home, the British economy will not get the long-term benefits of these students,” said Stephen Clarke, the report’s author.
“The government needs to re-evaluate how effectively it is encouraging British students to take STEM subjects, as well as how it monitors progress towards getting more STEM graduates into the British labour market,” he said.
The report will make sobering reading for the British government, which is desperate to spur economic growth and shake heavy youth unemployment. It also casts doubt on plans to slash international student numbers by 2015, through measures such as removing the post-study work rights of non-EU students.
“It is vital that employers, current and prospective students fully understand that the UK’s doors are still open"
Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said: “Our universities’ track record of attracting international staff and students has made a very important contribution to the UK’s considerable intellectual and economic success.
“It is vital that employers, current and prospective students fully understand that the UK’s doors are still open to genuine international students who want to contribute to the UK in graduate level jobs.”
Responding to the report, a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesperson said the government would continue to encourage the “brightest and best” international students to study in the UK while intensifying efforts to improve uptake of STEM subjects in British schools and at universities.
A new report has revealed that the UK is not producing enough science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) graduates to drive much-needed economic growth. Instead, STEM courses are increasingly being taken by international students – the majority of whom will not enter the labour market – prompting fears the UK will face a skills shortage in years to come.
The report, by the independent think tank CIVITAS, focused on STEM disciplines as they are integral to boosting a country’s manufacturing and exports. It found that in all four groups of STEM subjects taught at British universities, the number of overseas students had grown at a faster rate than the number of British students between 1996/97 and 2006/7.
In total, there were 33,298 more computer science students in the UK in 2006/07 than in 1996/97, but international students accounted for 41.7% of this rise. Meanwhile, the number of British engineering and technology students actually fell by 5,769 during the period, while the number of overseas students increased by 12,308 (accounting for 30% of the total).
The report also found that an increasing majority of international students taking STEM subjects were from outside the EU, rising to 70 per cent in 2006/7.
“If a growing number of overseas students from outside the EU are filling an increasing proportion of STEM places in British universities and a significant proportion of them return home, the British economy will not get the long-term benefits of these students,” said Stephen Clarke, the report’s author.
“The government needs to re-evaluate how effectively it is encouraging British students to take STEM subjects, as well as how it monitors progress towards getting more STEM graduates into the British labour market,” he said.
The report will make sobering reading for the British government, which is desperate to spur economic growth and shake heavy youth unemployment. It also casts doubt on plans to slash international student numbers by 2015, through measures such as removing the post-study work rights of non-EU students.
“It is vital that employers, current and prospective students fully understand that the UK’s doors are still open”
Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said: “Our universities’ track record of attracting international staff and students has made a very important contribution to the UK’s considerable intellectual and economic success.
“It is vital that employers, current and prospective students fully understand that the UK’s doors are still open to genuine international students who want to contribute to the UK in graduate level jobs.”
Responding to the report, a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesperson said the government would continue to encourage the “brightest and best” international students to study in the UK while intensifying efforts to improve uptake of STEM subjects in British schools and at universities.
