The government will now need to respond to its findings, but the review is a triumphant result for universities and international students studying in the UK.
Though it is too early to celebrate, social media was awash with posts responding to the MAC review’s findings on Tuesday May 14.
In case you missed them – or were overwhelmed by their volume – here is how some key industry stakeholders received the news.
🗣️ Our CEO Dr Tim Bradshaw:
“The message from the MAC is that the Graduate Route is achieving its objectives. We would urge Ministers to end the uncertainty & confirm as soon as possible that the route will continue.”
Find out more at pic.twitter.com/Ffx8ixzlls
— Russell Group (@RussellGroup) May 14, 2024
A pretty unambiguous (and very welcome!) recommendation from the MAC there.
Over to you, government… pic.twitter.com/pBvcE6zhY1
— Harry Anderson (@harrycanderson) May 14, 2024
NCUK welcomes the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to retain the UK Graduate Route in its current form. This route is vital for our international students, allowing them to gain valuable work experience in the UK after their studies.
— NCUK (@NCUKTogether) May 14, 2024
Remarkable that @JamesCleverly @homeoffice letter commissioning the MAC contained huge error – per MAC boss Brian Bell, it said over half of overseas graduates went into care sector. It’s actually 20 per cent. pic.twitter.com/3pRwRv8rDv
— Peter Foster (@pmdfoster) May 14, 2024
The UKIBC welcomes the findings of the MAC review of the Graduate Visa route, and urges the government to accept the recommendations. Please see full statement from the UKIBC CEO, Richard McCallum here:
— UK India Business Council (@UKIBC) May 14, 2024
The main lesson from the MAC review is that there is a world of difference between data hastily assembled to prove a political point and data brought together to undertake objective analysis.
— Anthony Painter (@anthonypainter) May 14, 2024
💬 “We welcome the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) findings that the Graduate route be retained in its current form.”
— vivienne stern (@viviennestern) May 14, 2024
‘In effect, international students are the ‘silent engine’ of levelling up.’ 🚗
Today, the MAC recommended retaining the Graduate route in its current form. @UUKIntl @arrowzmith and John Foster (@CBItweets) explain why this is so important ⤵️https://t.co/thenVqNqfN
— Universities UK International (@UUKIntl) May 14, 2024Read the full statement from UKCISA on the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) review of the Graduate route on our website 👇… pic.twitter.com/sJycm4oqOR
— UK Council for International Student Affairs (@UKCISA) May 14, 2024
Hepi boss @nickhillman on MAC review: “It cannot be repeated too often that the overwhelming majority of international students come here, spend lots of money and then go home with warm views about the UK. What’s not to like about that?”
— Chris Parr (@ChrisJParr) May 14, 2024
— Justine Greening (@JustineGreening) May 14, 2024
A lot of rather selective quoting of the MAC: in fact it found that after 12 months Grad Route visa holders’ earnings are broadly comparable to domestic graduates- median earnings in the first year are £21K – significantly higher than original estimates
Somewhere in Whitehall: pic.twitter.com/W0SCtS4jVM
— Nick Hillman (@nickhillman) May 14, 2024
Read more of our coverage of the MAC review: the findings, the sector’s reaction and the MAC’s chair defending the review on UK radio.
