Home Secretary Priti Patel talks visas, science and innovation at Imperial
Home Secretary Priti Patel MP with Dr Colin Hale and students in the Carbon Capture Pilot Plant
Home Secretary Priti Patel MP met members of Imperialās international community as she discussed the impact of visa reforms on research and education.
The Home Secretary and Imperialās President Alice Gast spoke about the governmentās new Global Talent and post-study work visas, which the College has campaigned for. The policies are set to make it easier for researchers to come to the UK and for international students to remain in the country for two years after graduation.
Ms Patel visited the Carbon Capture Pilot Plant where Dr Colin Hale, Dr Camille Petit, Professor Jason Hallett and a multinational group of students spoke of the ways in which Imperial academics, students and innovators have benefited from working in international teams with global collaborators.
Best and brightest
The Home Secretary said she wants the UK visa system to prioritise the ābest and brightest from around the world,ā and that the government will support āthose with the highest skills and the greatest talents: scientists, engineers and academics.ā
Professor Alice Gast, President of Imperial College London, said: āBritish science is global. The new post-study work and Global Talent visas will help us to attract the worldās brightest students and researchers, wherever they come from. From the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine to clean energy, British scienceās international collaborations drive innovation and excellence.ā
Ms Patel said: āThese are exciting routes, if youāre an innovator like Jasonā, after learning that Professor Hallettās research group includes members from 18 different countries.
‘Essential’ European connections
While welcoming the visa reforms, President Gast noted that international staff and students are overrepresented among Imperial startups. She made it clear that European connections are fundamental to Imperialās status as the UKās most international university, and that associate membership of Horizon Europe would allow UK science to thrive. Ms Patel said āWe want to be a player at that table.ā
The Home Secretary said she was āimpressed by the facilities you have here, not just from a research perspective, but an educational one too.ā
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