Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps with relevant stakeholders to help support postgraduate international students find employment in the UK on completion of their studies.

The government recognises the significant economic and cultural contribution that international students make to the UK’s higher education (HE) sector.

The government has set out its commitment to supporting international student employability in Action 6 of the International Education Strategy, which was launched in 2021 and states that the “UK Council for International Student Affairs will collaborate with the Confederation of British Industry, Universities UK International, and key education and employer groups to support international student employability. This group will build understanding of the UK’s skills needs, international labour markets, and barriers to international graduate employability and share examples of best practice across the sector”. The strategy is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/601d7475e90e0711caf57c70/International-Education-Strategy-_2021-Update.pdf.

The department engages regularly with stakeholder groups, such as the UK Council for International Student Affairs and Universities UK, on matters surrounding international student employability to ensure a joined-up approach between government and the HE sector.