Fair Treatment For Overseas Students

EDM number 718 in 1991-92, proposed by Mike Watson on 19/02/1992.

That this House, recognising that overseas students are both an educational and cultural asset to this country, of value not just for their financial contribution to our educational system and society, believes that they must be treated in a non-discriminatory manner throughout their stay here and that, when recruiting, institutions should comply with the British Council Code of Practice on responsible recruitments; notes the need for a proper gender balance of overseas students and an enhancement of Britain's commitment, through education, to empowering women from overseas; further notes and deplores the fact that present immigration regulations discriminate against female overseas students by denying them the right to bring their spouse and/ or dependants into this country during their course of study, but does not place similar restrictions on male overseas students; and urges that, in view of the important financial contribution which overseas students make, the Government should ensure that those studying on courses which are linked to European mobility programmes are allowed to participate in them as equal partners.

This motion has been signed by a total of 53 MPs.