The NUS International Students’ Campaign is the world’s biggest organisation representing and campaigning on international student issues. International students represent more than 500,000 of the UK student population. The creation of the part time NUS International Students’ Officer and NUS International Students’ Campaign was a major step forward, however I personally believe the Campaign remains massively under-resourced for the mandate it has. To give adequate representation we desperately need an International Students’ Officer and Campaign that can reach out locally and nationally.

The case for a full-time NUS International Students’ Officer

International students make a disproportionately high contribution in fees to our educational institutions. Therefore, the income we generate directly enables many block grants paid to maintain students’ unions at a time when education is being expanded, but funding for education is not increasing from the government.

International students pay an average of £8,500 every year for their courses. We generate £5 billion every year into the British economy through our fees alone. If you add the money we contribute in terms of living costs, the total figure we add is close to £10 billion.

I believe NUS needs to give international students fair representation: The budget which the NUS International Students’ Campaign was allocated this year was £8,000 for the whole year. THIS IS LESS THAN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AN AVERAGE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PAYS IN ONE YEAR OF STUDY IN THE UK.

This budget includes :

The NUS International Students’ Officer expenses
• The NUS International Students’ Committee expenses
• All travel, conference and communication costs.

The NUS International Students’ Officer also has no dedicated office facility from which to run the Campaign.

The experience of International Students

We are often perceived as “cash cows” in the education system – able to contribute higher amounts of money while the disadvantages we often face are overlooked Draconian immigration rules and visa restrictions cause huge problems for international students – cases such as that of Victor Ruttoh, who was assaulted and deported by officials when he went to register his national insurance details highlight this abuse. We are still dealing with bank issues, International Students are now being charged to open Bank accounts, in addition to the huge deposits banks in the UK require before accounts are opened.

International students also face home sickness, xenophobia, racism, isolation and welfare issues that are not always prioritised by institutions. Therefore, the role of the NUS International Students’ Campaign is critical in helping support international students studying in many of our institutions across the UK.

On its current limited resources, the NUS International Students' Campaign is not able to deliver the kind of representation that is fair for international students. In the short time it has existed, this Campaign has secured a working allowance of 20 hours per week from the Home Office to permit international students to work, in order to ease their living expenses, and have succeeded in getting students a National Insurance number at point of entry.

By creating a full time officer we can achieve what is necessary, to deal with the issues of international students which encompass every major area NUS campaigns on, but is currently unable to address for international students including: welfare, education funding, services, anti-racism and general representation.

Help us to ensure that the NUS is giving fair representation to international students, without whom, educational institutions, students’ unions, and ultimately: the NUS, would not be able to fund itself and deliver for all students.

I am personally asking you to vote yes for a full time international students officer at NUS Conference 2007.

Statement of support

The NUS International Students’ Campaign represents more than 500,000 students in the UK. International students are making a disproportionately high contribution to educational institutions through higher fees which then enables educational institutions, students’ unions, and ultimately the NUS to function at its current level of funding. International students pay an average of £8,500 per year for their courses and generate £10 billion each year into the UK economy. It is unacceptable and unfair that the budget of NUS International Students’ Campaign – as allocated by the NUS – is £8,000 for the year 2006-07. With this small amount the Campaign is expected to address draconian immigration rules and visa restrictions, banking issues which leave international students with inadequate access to money, welfare issues around homesickness, xenophobia, racism, isolation and welfare issues that are not properly prioritised by all institutions.

Copy and send this section to me to show your support:

We the undersigned support the creation of a full time officer NUS International Students’ Officer in order to deal with the issues of international students which encompass every major area of NUS campaigns, which it is currently unable to address.

• Signed:
• Name:
• Position:
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