UK pride over top universities trumps tech and sport

HIGHER education is the sector Brits are most proud of on the world stage, new polling shows.

Research by Survation found the public backs our top universities over the likes of sport and hospitality to sell the UK on the global stage.

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Higher education is the sector Brits are most proud of on the world stage, new polling shows[/caption]

Of those surveyed, 45 per cent believe Britain’s universities performed stronger than their counterparts in the rest of the world.

The figure tops financial services on 44 per cent, tech on 38 per cent and renewable energy on 32 per cent.

The survey comes as ministers consider a further crackdown on international students in a bid to bring down net migration.

Top universities have warned the move would harm the global standing of institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge.

The Government has also commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to make a rapid review of the Graduate Visa Route.

But polling shows the public sees international students as key to universities’ global success.

Six times as many people agreed that more international students demonstrate the global prestige of UK universities (54 per cent) than those who disagreed (9 per cent).

The Russell Group, which represents 24 research-intensive universities, today warned that a sharp cut in international students would damage the economy and undermine the UK’s status on the world stage by excluding global talent.