New universities minister Jo Johnson has been warned that his declared target to increase education exports by billions of pounds will require a 鈥渃ross-government effort鈥�, including from the Home Office.

Mr Johnson delivered his first speech in his new role at the British Council鈥檚 Going Global conference for international education leaders in London on 1 June, stating that the UK is 鈥渃ommitted to increasing education exports from 拢18 billion in 2012 to 拢30 billion by 2020鈥�.

It is thought to be the first time that a government minister has committed to the 拢30 billion target in public.

The figure was agreed internally at an October 2014 meeting of the International Education Council, which brings together government and education sector representatives, as part of a drive to double the UK鈥檚 exports across all sectors to 拢1聽trillion by 2020.

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The , chaired by Sir Eric Thomas, vice-chancellor of the University of Bristol, state that Lord Livingston, the trade and investment minister, had led a process to identify 鈥渨hat might be achievable in each sector鈥� on exports. 鈥淭his concluded that the aspiration for international education was to reach 拢30 billion by 2020,鈥� the minutes continue.

The Conservative manifesto promises to 鈥渞eform the student visa system with new measures to tackle abuse and reduce the numbers of students overstaying once their visas expire鈥�. That could raise questions about whether the 拢30 billion target can be achieved.

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But there are also suggestions within the sector that the government is considering a plan to reintroduce a two-year post-study work visa for institutions where less than 5 per cent of prospective students鈥� visas are refused.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, welcomed Mr Johnson鈥檚 speech. 鈥淥ther countries, such as Germany, have recently adopted ambitious targets for educational exports and we must do so too if we are to retain our market share, let alone increase it,鈥� he said.

But in a reference to Home Office policies on overseas students often perceived by universities as damaging, he said: 鈥淭o achieve 拢30 billion is likely to need a cross-government effort, with other departments helping to support the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills鈥� ambition.鈥�

During a Q&A session with reporters after the speech, 探花视频 asked Mr Johnson if he would challenge the Home Office if necessary and advocate the reintroduction of post-study work visas. He replied: 鈥淚t鈥檚 in the interests of everybody in the higher education sector to drive up quality and standards. The Home Office is doing a job for everybody in this respect by clamping down on bogus colleges鈥nd in dealing with fraudulent student applications.鈥�

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john.morgan@tesglobal.com