Thursday, April 18, 2019
Universities from across South West England and South Wales met at Bristol Airport on the 16 April as part of a partnership to provide an improved welcome to international students arriving at the region’s major international gateway.
Representatives of the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Bath Spa, Cardiff, Exeter and the West of England teamed up with Bristol Airport to discuss a joint approach to ensure the growing number of international students receive the best possible start to their overseas study experience.
According to figures from the UK Council for International Student Affairs, more than 400,000 international students attend universities in the UK, with institutions in South West England and South Wales accounting for more than one tenth of the total.
The default choice for many international students is to fly to London airports due to a lack of awareness of the frequent daily flights between Bristol and Amsterdam which provide connections to hundreds of destinations worldwide.
Research from the Higher Education Policy Institute found that international students contribute more than £20 billion to the UK economy. This includes tuition fees, knock-on effects across the economy, and spending by visiting friends and relatives. Other benefits include future investment, business and trade links, and the wider cultural and societal benefits associated with a more diverse population.
Nigel Scott, Business Development Director at Bristol Airport, said:
“We recognise the value international students bring to our region, so it is important that we offer a warm welcome. By working with the universities, we can make sure that first impressions are positive for students when they arrive in the UK for the first time.”
Kelly Cotter, Head of Global Centre at the University of the West of England, said:
“Travelling to another country to study can be daunting, so we are delighted to be working with Bristol Airport to extend a very warm welcome to our city to international students as soon as they touch down. Working in collaboration with Bristol Airport and the region’s universities, we want to encourage more students to use the fantastic facilities and links the airport has to offer, helping to make the international student journey as stress free as possible.”
Source:- Bristol Airport
Tags: Bristol Airport
