The APPG for International Students marked International Students’ Day with an event in Parliament celebrating the transformative impact of international students on the UK.
Speakers from across the education sector joined parliamentarians to highlight the invaluable contributions of international students to local communities, the vibrancy they bring to higher education—with nearly 760,000 international students enrolled in 2022–23, alongside many more in colleges and language centres—and their role in driving innovation. Discussions emphasised the importance of inclusive environments and the need to strengthen ties between international students and the UK to foster cultural exchange and support local initiatives.
In his opening remarks, former Shadow Minister for Education Matt Western celebrated the rich cultural tapestry and fresh perspectives that international students bring to UK campuses and communities. Attendees also heard from the Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Education, Jacqui Smith, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting international students. She highlighted post-study work pathways as a key tool for retaining global talent and integrating their skills into UK society, underscoring the mutual benefits of international education in enriching campuses and building global connections.
Students Melody Sequeira, an international PhD student from India studying translational neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh, and XiaoXiao Hou, an international student from China with a background in music, shared powerful personal accounts. Sequeira spoke about volunteering in hospital wards during the COVID-19 pandemic, an experience that gave her a sense of purpose, deepened cultural exchange with patients, and inspired her to pursue research bridging clinical practice with lived experience. Hou reflected on her journey of cultural exchange, teaching Mandarin to local students, her work as a skilled guzheng player blending Chinese and Western music through performances across the UK, and her extensive charity work.
The event concluded with a strong call to enhance support for international students, recognising their invaluable contributions.