Association of University Staff
Media Release
UK visa restrictions for academics counterproductive, say university staff
Moves to reduce the free movement of academics into Britain have been labeled as counterproductive and unnecessarily
restrictive, according to the Association of University Staff (AUS).
At present, academics can enter Britain for a period of up to twelve months visa-free, but in proposed widespread
changes to immigration rules, the British government is planning to limit that period to three months.
AUS national president, Associate Professor Maureen Montgomery, says that academic staff work in a highly-mobile
international market, and the free exchange of academics between countries is necessary in order to advance research and
the world’s knowledge base. “Any moves to make it more difficult for New Zealand academics to enter Britain are not only
unnecessarily bureaucratic, but it would be counter-productive because they will impede collaboration on internationally
important research between New Zealand and British academics,” she said.
Associate Professor Montgomery said that universities recruit as many as 60 percent of new staff from overseas countries
and any restriction on the immigration of academics would compound a forecast staff recruitment and retention crisis in
British universities by the end of this decade.
“It appears that the motivation for the planned changes comes from the fear of an increased number of illegal immigrants
to Britain, but there is no evidence to suggest that New Zealand academics pose any sort of risk,” Associate Professor
Montgomery said.
The AUS supports moves by the New Zealand government to oppose the proposed new immigration rules.
Ends