Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 64
64
Accepted in Part
Expand Science and Technology cooperation and support increased Indian student numbers.
Recommendation
The Government should also seek to support student numbers to grow from India, but also expand our Science and Technology co-operation, putting it at the centre of our ambitions with our Indian partners. (Paragraph 214) Indonesia
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees regarding student numbers, welcoming Indian students as part of a broader goal to host 600,000 international students by 2030, but does not commit to increasing numbers from specific countries. It fully supports and is expanding Science and Technology cooperation with India, citing a new MoU and India's partnership in the International Science Partnerships Fund.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
158. The Government partially agrees with the Committee’s recommendation on growing student numbers. International students, including the more than 140,000 from India, make a vital cultural and educational contribution to the Higher Education sector and to the UK as a whole. Indian students make up the largest number of sponsored study visas granted in the year ending June 2023. There were 142,848 study visas granted in year ending June 2023, an increase of 49,883 (+54%) compared to the year ending June 2022. We are proud to commit to hosting at least 600,000 international students in the UK every year by 2030 and welcome the Indian students that make up these numbers. 159. Nevertheless, as a policy, we do not commit to increases in student markets from specific countries. The UK’s offer to international students remains very competitive and we are committed to ensuring the UK remains a destination of choice for international students from across the globe. 160. Separately, the Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation on expanding our Science and Technology (S&T) cooperation with India and recognises the importance of India as a long-term S&T partner for the UK, which will positively contribute to future jobs, investment, and innovation. The 2030 Roadmap for India-UK Future Relations includes commitments to technological collaboration that improves the lives and livelihoods of our citizens and to establishing India-UK leadership in climate, clean energy and health. This includes building on the two countries’ existing bilateral research, science and innovation infrastructure to continue to support high-quality, high- impact research and innovation through joint ventures. We have a number of channels for doing so, including the Science and Innovation Council which is led at ministerial level by both countries. During the most recent Council meeting in April 2023, the UK and India signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding on research and innovation which will enable quicker, deeper collaboration on science between our countries. Moreover, India was named as a partner for the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), carrying forward the UK-India science partnership built through the Newton- Bhabha Fund. Since 2014, Newton-Bhabha has jointly funded over 700 projects through 44 programmes, providing grants to over 3,000 researchers and innovators and establishing collaborations between almost 1,200 UK and Indian institutions.