BOURNEMOUTH’S colleges for international students are seeking reassurance from the government after predictions that enrolment could fall by more than 17 per cent.

A seminar for the industry – said to be worth £300million a year to the town – heard concerns that overseas students felt they were unwelcome in the UK.

The event, held by Bournemouth International Education Forum’s (IEF) Executive Business Network, heard calls for the government not to apply any extra restrictions on students seeking to learn and work in the UK.

David Jones, vice-chairman of the forum and director of ETC International College, said predicted enrolments of overseas students in the UK were currently down 17.2 per cent, while the UK’s competitors were seeing double-digit increases.

He said prime minister Theresa May had not given details of her intention for the UK to set its own immigration rules.

Mr Jones said a “lack of clear communication from the government” was “making students decide not to come to the UK to study as they don’t feel welcome”.

He added: “Unfortunately, agents abroad are increasingly placing students in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

“What we need are reassurances from the government that they are going to support the tourism and international education sectors and not penalise either by restricting access to employment for those students who are eligible to work.

“We would also not want the government to introduce any additional entry restrictions for study. The impact of the government’s indecision and lack of answers at the moment could have a devastating impact on the IEF members in our town.

“The IEF sector in Bournemouth has worked so hard to achieve a world-wide reputation, despite its comparable size when competing with better-known cities such as Manchester and Liverpool and is now known to be the second largest provider of international education after London, with an estimated value to the area’s economy of an incredible £300m per year.”

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, who was at the seminar, said: “I pledged to ensure that the process of Brexit is used as an opportunity for the sector and to highlight how foreign students acting as ambassadors for our country when they return home are an important part of Britain's 'soft power' globally.”

The event – sponsored by Laceys Solicitors, Saffery Champness Accountants and Santander – also heard from Frances Miles and Tracey Wood, directors of JobShopUK.

Ms Miles said: “As a hospitality town we rely heavily on international students working in the town and we cannot afford to put up any barriers which restrict them from working here.”