Study Group proud to support the #WeAreInternational campaign

Tue, 23 May 20231min read

Three students under blossoming trees on a university campus

Study Group is delighted to join our UK university partners and higher education sector bodies to support the #WeAreInternational campaign, which marks its 10th anniversary this year and relaunches today to recognise and celebrate the contribution of international students in the UK.

Study Group Managing Director, UK and Europe James Pitman says:

“This is an important time to honour the successes of students who travel to the UK to study at our great universities, and to build understanding of the difference they make for good in this country and around the world.

“International students contribute £41.9 billion to the UK economy, underpin teaching and research at our globally-respected universities and are a pipeline of talent in key areas important to future innovation. The high-quality of a UK university education and the opportunities that come with it prepare international graduates for careers around the world and build vital global connections between countries.

“Ensuring the UK International Education Strategy supports this fantastic success story for Britain and the world relies on high-quality teaching backed by clear messages of welcome and the related policies critical to its success.”

Study Group has long-standing links to the #WeAreInternational campaign, which was founded in 2013 to celebrate the positive impacts of international communities in UK universities and to lobby for supportive policies. Cofounders of #WeAreInternational included Sir Keith Burnett, a member of the board of Study Group and previously President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Sheffield, and our Director of External Affairs Ruth Arnold who received an Outstanding Contribution to International Education award for work on the campaign. Over the last decade we have also worked closely with sector bodies such as Universities UK International and the UK Council for International Student Affairs, the All Party Parliamentary Group on International Students and government departments to further the interests of International education in the UK.

#WeAreInternational has received numerous higher education awards, including International Education Strategy of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year and the CASE Circle of Excellence. The campaign is now hosted by the UK Council of International Student Affairs and includes the #WeAreInternational Student Charter and the #WeAreInternational Student Ambassadors programme, which offers training and support to an annual cohort of international student leaders from across the UK to help shape future policy for International education in Britain.

Relaunched today, the public-facing campaign is supported by the UK Council for International Student Affairs, the British Universities International Liaison Association and London Higher - the representative body for London universities of which Study Group is a member.

Director of Universities UK International Jamie Arrowsmith adds:

“We should be proud that our universities continue to attract students from all over the world. It's vital the UK remains an open and welcoming destination for international students, and that their contribution is recognised and valued. It’s vital we recognise the amazing contribution international students make - and celebrate their stories. Universities UK International is proud to support #WeAreInternational.”

Study Group Managing Director, UK and Europe James Pitman serves as a member of the British Council’s Higher Education Sector Group, Chair of Exporting Education UK and Vice-Chair of Independent Higher Education.