Allister Heath highlights the importance of the international student market to the UK economy. But the talent that comes into our universities from overseas is worth much more than just a short term cash injection.
Many overseas students coming to the UK, are some of the worlds most talented, and offer an extraordinary benefit to our society and economy. They have the capacity to help UK businesses understand how to penetrate overseas markets and, as the London First study highlighted, these future leaders are more likely to do business in the UK as a result of studying here. We should also not forget that the Britain's global position in research is a consequence of being able to get the very best postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and professors from across the globe. Many go on to make remarkable contributions to our knowledge economy, through teaching, research, and by creating new companies and winning Nobel prizes.
In todays competition for the brightest minds, it is vital that the UK continues to be a destination of choice for the most promising young talents, wherever they come from. Mr Javid needs to be allowed to get on with his job and make it unambiguously clear, that Britain welcomes smart people from across the world, and is serious about, and open for, international business.
A version of this was published as a letter in the Daily Telegraph.