Massive Layoff In UK Schools Over Drop In International Student Enrollments

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Brand Spur
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Massive Layoff In UK Schools Over Drop In International Student Enrollments
Massive Layoff In UK Schools Over Drop In International Student Enrollments

In the United Kingdom (UK), at least 15 universities have publicly announced staff layoffs and course closures, which was prompted by a significant decline in overseas postgraduate student enrollments this past January.

BrandSpur Nigeria understands that this is directly related to the UK government’s stance on reducing international student numbers

Concerns are now mounting that undergraduate student recruitment may also decline in the upcoming academic year, exacerbated by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

In recent times, higher education landscape in the United Kingdom has seen many universities ranging from prestigious Russell Group universities to mid-tier universities and Scottish institutions, issuing alerts about potential course reductions and staff layoffs

Meanwhile, certain higher education institutions, particularly those established after the conversion of polytechnics to universities in 1992, appear to have experienced remarkable growth last year.

These universities, notably targeting countries outlined in the UK government’s International Education Strategy such as India and Nigeria, witnessed substantial increases in non-EU international student enrollments.

According to reports, Robert Gordon University (RGU) has implemented a voluntary severance scheme in response to staff redundancies, which have arisen due to financial strains exacerbated by a significant drop in international student numbers.

This decline is partly due to the post-Brexit changes to UK immigration policies, which have made the UK a less attractive study destination for students from abroad.

RGU has pointed to increased cost pressures and a substantial reduction in public funding as additional challenges compounding the situation.