A proposed levy on tuition fees could help ¡°demonstrate the contribution¡± that international students make to the UK, the skills minister has said.?

Appearing in front of the education select committee on 24 June, Jacqui Smith told MPs that the government believes ¡°there needs to be demonstrably a link between those people that are coming into the country and the contribution that they¡¯re making to the country¡±.?

A levy on international student fees was?first proposed earlier this year?by the government in its immigration White Paper, with further details expected to be revealed in the October budget.

The policy idea was met with dismay by universities, which?could lose millions in income?if it comes into force.?

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However, Smith criticised the ¡°overdependence on international students to fill gaps in higher education funding¡± within the sector, blaming the previous government for the situation.?

While Labour decided to keep the graduate route visa in its review of the UK¡¯s immigration system ¨C albeit reducing the length from two years to 18 months ¨C at the same time, Smith said, ¡°we thought it was worth exploring a way that you could more clearly demonstrate the contribution that international students make¡±.?

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¡°The international students¡¯ levy, were we to go ahead with it, would¡­really demonstrate that in terms of money that could then...be reinvested into higher education and skills.¡±

The government doubled down on the proposal in its June spending review, writing in the document of its intention to ¡°explore¡± the idea, which would ¡°provide further support for upskilling the domestic workforce¡±.?

¡°We¡¯re not at a point yet where we can talk about the details of the design or be clear therefore about how much it would raise and what we would spend it on,¡± Smith added.?

¡°It¡¯s something¡­that I¡¯ve spent a considerable amount of time talking to and listening to the higher education sector about, including their concerns about how it might operate and what it might mean for them, and I¡¯ve made a commitment to carry on doing that as we continue to think about whether or not this is a route we want to go down.¡±

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Despite the changes to the graduate route visa, Smith said the UK ¡°remains an incredibly attractive place to come and study¡±.

¡°The figures suggest we are still continuing to attract people to come and study here and I¡¯m pleased about that.¡±

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com