Education Secretary addresses Embassy Education Conference

Embassy Network

Bridget Phillipson vows to reset the UK government’s relationship with international students

“Be in no doubt: international students are welcome in the UK.”

With these words the Secretary of State for Education Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP opened the 2024 Embassy Education Conference at King’s College London.

Addressing a capacity crowd of ambassadors and diplomats, the Education Secretary said: “For too long international students have been treated as political footballs, not valued guests…This new government values their contribution – to our universities, to our communities, to our country.”  

Partnership in education
The Secretary of State said it was her mission to build “genuine partnerships with countries across the world in higher education and beyond” and looked forward to welcoming education ministers from around the world at the Education World Forum in London next year from 18-21 May.  

Addressing diplomats representing almost 120 nations, she said: “Education must be at the forefront of tackling the major global challenges of our time. Artificial intelligence, climate change, poverty, misinformation, polarisation, war and instability… I want to work with all of you to deliver opportunity for all – not just here at home, but across the world too.”

President of UKCISA Lord Bilimoria addresses the plenary session, alongside Embassy Director Elizabeth Stewart, Education Secretary the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Pro-Vice Chancellor and President of King’s College London Professor Shitij Kapur and Director of UUKi Jamie Arrowsmith

 

Global legacy
Welcoming delegates to King’s College London, Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice Chancellor and Principal of King’s, reflected on its history as a global university in the heart of London, its inclusivity in awarding degrees to women since the 1870s and its commitment to education as a public good, open to all in service of society.

 

In his keynote address, the Director of Universities UK International Jamie Arrowsmith welcomed the Education Secretary’s “clear and positive statement” on international collaboration, education partnerships and international students. “International partnerships are an integral part of what makes our universities special across the world.”

Mr Arrowsmith stressed that building long-term collaborations – whether in research or delivering trans-national education with overseas partners – required a stable policy environment. “Collaboration thrives on stability,” he said.

Lord Bilimoria, President of the UK Council for International Students thanked the Secretary of State for her “refreshing remarks” about international students, and for committing to retain the Graduate Visa Route. He went on to urge the Government to go further in its policies to encourage international students to choose the UK as their top study destination, saying their tuition fees provided vital income for universities, and international students contribute £42 billion to the wider UK economy.

Embassy Director Elizabeth Stewart with joint Education Attaché of the Year 2024 winners Willie Weru (Kenya), Rasha Kamal (Egypt) and Education Attaché of the Year for Asia, Alia Alias (Malaysia) and Education Attaché of the Year for Europe, Birgitta Vuorinen (Finland)

 

Celebrating excellence
Embassy Network director Elizabeth Stewart said the Education Secretary’s mission to “break down the barriers to opportunity” would be much appreciated by education attachés in the audience. She added that education attachés stood ready to assist as “opportunity brokers” – whether that was by helping their international students to thrive in the UK; encouraging student exchange programmes for British students to visit their countries; or by deepening and broadening education, skills and research partnerships between their countries and Britain.

Praising the work of education attachés, she announced the four outstanding Regional Finalists for the Education Attaché of the Year Award 2024: Willie Weru, from the Kenya High Commission (Education Attaché of the Year for Africa); Alia Alias from the Malaysia High Commission, (Education Attaché of the Year for Asia); Birgitta Vuorinen from the Embassy of Finland (Education Attaché of the Year for Europe); and Rasha Kamal from the Embassy of Egypt (Education Attaché of the Year for the Middle East).

The overall winner was selected by education attachés and representatives of education institutions and sector bodies attending the Education Conference, and this year the award was shared by two exceptional education attachés: Dr Rasha Kamal (Egypt) and Willie Weru (Kenya).

Samra Koričić Mujkić of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina gives the closing address

 

Education as a force for good
The awards were presented by last year’s Education Attaché for Europe and member of the London Education and Research Network (LEARN), Samra Koričić Mujkić of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In her closing remarks of the conference, Ms Koričić Mujkić encouraged education attachés to join LEARN as a unique platform where education attachés meet representatives of the education sector, as well as parliamentarians and policy makers to share best practice, inform international education policy and promote excellence in education diplomacy.

Drawing on her country’s experience, Ms Koričić Mujkić reminded attendees of the role of education in building community cohesion, particularly in post-conflict societies.

Referring to the recent UN General Assembly Resolution to designate 11 July as International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, she said education should always be used as a force for good, rather than a tool for propaganda and manipulation.

Congratulating this year’s winners on their achievements, Ms Koričić Mujkić encouraged all diplomats present to work together “to build better, healthier and just societies based on human rights and free of terror and war”.