Tougher UK immigration norms trigger STEM skills shortage

United Kingdom, 26th July: Recent restrictions introduced by the UK immigration department are going to spell trouble for employers.

This is keeping in view the fact that the UK is already losing its sheen in the international student market due to increased visa requirements, higher UK university fee and no privilege for work in the UK for foreign students.

STEM skills shortage may worsen--Findings of a recent report caution such a thing might worsen the looming shortage of skills in STEM(science, technology, engineering and maths). The report by the UK House of Lords Science and Technology Committee maintains that the UK needs high quality of students. And the nation does not students with requisite mathematics skills.

Prioritize efforts to increase students in STEM courses--So, if the nation wants to address the issue of shortage of STEM skills, the UK government must work towards making Mathematics mandatory for all studying at school after attaining the age of 16.

This ruling should be applicable on all such students irrespective of the subjects being studied by them, the report affirms.

It has come to the ground that majority of students, if not all, reach university levels to study STEM courses without having requisite skills in maths, the report shows. And this required the urgency of offering remedial courses to such students at university, said Lord Willis in a statement.

The UK’s high-tech and education industry cannot hope for generation of economic growth unless it gets a workforce that is knowledgeable and highly skilled.

Ease UK immigration caps—The report further highlights the importance of relaxing tougher UK visa annual caps imposed by the UK immigration in a bid to bring down annual UK immigration figures.

That’s because tough requirements for UK visas are proving a hindrance for the UK to attract the best foreign talent to come and study here, the report by the House of Lords clarifies.

Only then can the UK become more welcoming to the international students, the Lords states.

Government welcomes report—The report by the Lords committee has been welcomed by the UK government. It has reaffirmed its willingness to increase the number of STEM grads in great demand in the nation.