- Skills minister warns universities against prioritising cashflow and “bums on seats” over quality as local communities question role of HE
- Danger of worsening reputation amid current political climate, with anti-immigration Reform party expected to make sweeping gains in local elections
- Smith vows IHEF to take complaints over lack of transparency from UKVI forward amid high visa refusal rates and upcoming crackdown on university compliance
Amid waning public trust in higher education and continued political scrutiny of immigration, universities must do more to communicate their value at the local level, sector leaders have warned.
Baroness Smith urged attendees of the International Higher Education Forum (IHEF) to demonstrate their anchor position within communities, reach out as good neighbours, and show how they contribute to UK growth both regionally and nationally.
“We must be careful that we don’t do things – in parts of the sector – that frankly look as if the priority is money and bums on seats rather than quality, because that undermines the message that this is actually beneficial both internationally and to UK universities.”
She added the sector must tell its own story about the “scope, influence and openness” of higher education to mitigate current scepticism, which “if we’re not careful given the political climate, will develop further in the coming years”, she warned.
The comments come amid growing global debates about universities’ ‘social licence’ – the extent to which they are trusted and perceived as delivering public good.
They were made on the eve of England’s local elections, where substantial gains by the right-wing Reform party are being hailed as “historic shifts”.
Baroness Smith reiterated the Labour government’s support for the sector, vowing it is a “fundamental part of who we are as a country to have a strong higher education system”.
While acknowledging “disagreements” between the sector and government, “we are absolutely partners with you”, she assured delegates.
Despite consistently supportive government rhetoric, a stream of recent policy changes seeking to tighten university compliance, shorten post-study work opportunities and reduce overall net migration have increased tensions with the sector.
We must be careful that we don’t do things – in parts of the sector – that frankly look as if the priority is money and bums on seats rather than quality
Baroness Jacqui Smith, Department of Education
Baroness Smith said such measures sought to achieve both Labour’s manifesto commitment of reducing net migration while also maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students.
“The world renown of UK higher education is both a badge of pride and a responsibility for the sector to uphold.”
“That, of course, means not allowing lower standards of entry to open a back door route around the immigration system, undermining the legitimacy and scholarship of the vast majority of international students.”
She said the incoming international student levy for English universities made a “direct link” between the economic benefit of international students and funding to enable maintenance grants for “our most disadvantaged domestic students”.
“There’s no point being internationally and nationally recognised as an enormously important asset if local people cannot access it.”
Elsewhere in the conference, conversations were dominated by the forthcoming tightened BCA metrics from the Home Office, which will set new compliance standards for university recruitment, due to be implemented on June 1, 2026.
Let me be clear, whether in Europe or further afield, we want the UK’s offer to be globally competitive and also aligned with our immigration and skills priorities
Baroness Jacqui Smith, Department of Education
Baroness Smith, who is part of the department of education, said she “honestly heard” sector complaints about lack of information sharing and transparency from UKVI, and that the department would also take these onboard.
She emphasised the value that both her and Bridget Phillipson, the secretary of state for education, place on international students and the “understanding and relationship building that only comes from that opportunity to live and learn alongside one another the way students can”.
“I know the sector worries about whether the whole government shares this view, particularly down the road in the Home Office… let me be clear, whether in Europe or further afield, we want the UK’s offer to be globally competitive and also aligned with our immigration and skills priorities.”
