DMU and University of Sheffield visit India to dispel Brexit myths and welcome international students

The Vice-Chancellors of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and the University of Sheffield have travelled to India to assure would-be students of a warm UK welcome, following the vote to leave the EU in June.

The new video for the #weareinternational campaign underlines the importance of  international students

DMU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard and Sheffield VC Professor Sir Keith Burnett are in New Delhi to talk to prospective Indian students and staff looking to study or work in the UK.

Prof Shellard said: "These face-to-face engagements are much needed in the current climate. There is some evidence to suggest that, since the Brexit vote, students and staff from India may now be looking to study and work in New Zealand, Australia, the USA and China instead of the UK, believing themselves to be unwelcome in our country.

“Any diminution of Indian student numbers would be a significant loss to our institutions – not simply in bald economic terms but culturally and academically. Our students would never have the chance to meet or learn from them and UK research would be the poorer without their input and talent.

“At DMU, our bond with India is particularly strong: we have more than 200 current students from India, more than 5,000 Indian alumni and our city of Leicester is greatly enriched by deep links with the sub-continent. DMU also works directly to benefit some of the poorest communities in India through the DMU Square Mile India initiative.

“We are committed, both as individuals and as a community, to deepening our links with India at a time of unprecedented turbulence.”

The event in New Delhi – which will take place on Wednesday – will feature speeches by Prof Shellard and Sir Keith, alongside talks by Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK and alumni from both universities.

It will follow a visit by both Vice-Chancellors to the India-UK TECH Summit 2016, India’s largest knowledge and technology conference and exhibition, which will bring together leaders in government, industry, higher education and research from both countries to broker new partnerships.

The summit was opened by Indian president Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Theresa May today (7 November). Higher education is a key focus of the event with Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson delivering a keynote address underlining Britain's expertise in higher education.

The New Delhi event is the latest in a string of engagements which DMU has held since the referendum result was announced to reassure international students. However, it is the first to be held jointly with the University of Sheffield and Universities UK.

Sir Keith will highlight the sector-wide #WeAreInternational campaign, which has seen more than 100 universities and organisations across the UK join forces to advocate for international students, staff, research and collaborations in higher education.

The #WeAreInternational campaign was first developed by the University of Sheffield and its Students’ Union in response to the increased difficulties facing international students who wish to study in the UK.

Sir Keith said: “Our great universities are, at their very core, places of international scholarship which welcome ideas and talent from around the world. Our teachers and students are from many nations. The work they do and the learning which takes place in the UK makes a difference around the world. Education is and must remain without borders.

“Our international students are also warmly welcomed by our local community where they volunteer, bring cultural vibrancy, work as doctors and make a vital economic contribution – around 10 per cent of inward investment.”