EU students at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and across the East Midlands generate £143m for the region’s economy and support 1,341 jobs, according to research published today.
Universities UK’s report examined the impact of EU students across the UK and found they generated £3.7bn for the UK economy and supported more than 34,000 jobs. UUK has signalled its support for the Remain campaign when the EU Referendum is held on June 23.
Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: "I believe Britain is stronger in the EU and today's figures from UUK demonstrate the tremendous benefit which EU students make to life in Leicester and the UK in general, creating jobs and boosting the economy. DMU welcomes hundreds of students from the EU every year and their ideas, enthusiasm and talent help make our campus the vibrant and dynamic place it is.
"At DMU, we have worked hard to foster a global outlook in our students with initiatives such as #DMUglobal, which has given thousands of students a different world view through overseas experiences and study. Putting up barriers and closing the UK off from the opportunities offered by EU membership is a retrograde step."
Currently, there are around 125,000 students from other EU countries studying at UK universities, representing five per cent of the total UK student population. The top five EU countries sending students to the UK are Germany (13,675 students), France (11,955), Ireland (10,905), Italy (10,525) and Greece (10,130).
Commenting on the figures, Dame Julia Goodfellow, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent, said: “EU students make an enormous contribution to British university life and local communities.
“The figures show clearly that EU students spend money and create jobs in all regions and corners of the UK. EU students also make a very important academic and cultural contribution to university life, creating an international, outward-looking culture on campuses which, in turn, benefits UK students.
“Leaving the EU and putting up barriers to work and study makes it more likely that European students and researchers will choose to go elsewhere, strengthening our competitors and weakening the UK’s universities.”
The analysis, based upon 2011-12 student number figures, has been welcomed by Universities Minister Jo Johnson.
He said: “Our success as a knowledge economy hinges on our ability to collaborate with the best minds from across Europe and the world.
“It would be reckless to cut ourselves off from the rich sources of EU funding, the access to valuable shared research facilities and the close institutional ties that provide so many opportunities to British students and academics.
“UK students benefit from their ability to study across the EU, while EU students generate billions for the UK economy, support thousands of jobs and enrich university life. I share the clear view of my predecessors and the majority of university leaders that our world-class universities and our scientific prowess will be much better off inside the EU.”
Posted on Friday 8 April 2016