Break in the clouds

The election is a chance to reset political thinking on universities

It’s hard to say which was the bigger relief for the sector last week: confirmation that graduate visas would be spared the chop—or, after months of universities feeling more attacked than supported by government, the prime minister’s announcement of a general election.

The government’s decision to retain the graduate route visa—albeit “under review”—is a victory for evidence-based policymaking. It also owes much to the sector’s intense lobbying efforts since ministers commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee in March to undertake a rapid review of the route.