NUS Scotland has hit out at the UK government after five Scottish colleges lost their licences to recruit international students under new UKBA rules. NUS Scotland and Scotland's Colleges warned the UK's visa rules were unfair to Scottish colleges and threatened the country's reputation as a study destination. The National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland has hit out at the UK government after five Scottish colleges lost their licences to recruit international students this month under new
UK Border Agency (UKBA) rules.
Cardonald, Anniesland, Stow, Reid Kerr and Motherwell colleges – all Further Education institutions – have had their Highly Trusted Sponsor Status (HTS) revoked or downgraded, and will be unable to recruit international students unless the decisions are overturned. Students at two of the colleges could be deported within 60 days.
NUS Scotland has written to the UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, asking her to help find new colleges for the students affected. It also called for a review of how student visa regulations are being implemented at smaller institutions in the UK.
"No student should ever be removed from their course – and worse, the country – for something which they had no control over,” Graeme Kirkpatrick, NUS Scotland Deputy President, said in a separate statement.
“However, this is more than an issue for international students. In these tough financial times, the contribution of international students to their communities is something that should never be underestimated.”
Under rules introduced by UKBA last year, colleges must meet
six requirements (in areas such as visa refusal rates and course completion rates) to remain an HTS with eligibility to recruit non-EEA students.
"No student should ever be removed from their course for something which they had no control over"
It is understood that
Cardonald College and
Stow College, both in Glasgow, lost their licences earlier this month after failing to keep adequate attendance records. Up to 41 students at Cardonald and 150 at Stow now face deportation before the completion of their courses unless new sponsor colleges can be found."
UKBA is said to be in talks with the colleges about how to enable students to complete their programmes in June before having to leave the UK.
Anniesland,
Motherwell and
Reid Kerr meanwhile have been downgraded, some because more than 15% of overseas students left before the end of their course. The colleges can no longer recruit international students but have six months to reapply for HTS.
NUS Scotland would not comment on whether the colleges had been at fault but stressed the importance of fair rules concerning international students in Scotland. Kirkpatrick said overseas students contributed an estimated £30m to the regional economy annually.
"The Westminster government's new rules for international students are completely misguided and are holding back Scotland's education sector,” he said.
"Our members risk losing their status due to circumstances often outside their control"
The Scottish government has also voiced concerns while in
the Herald, John Henderson, chief executive of
Scotland's Colleges, questioned the fairness of the rules for smaller colleges.
"The proportional measures of compliance can mean our members risk losing their status due to circumstances often outside their control," he said.
In other UKBA news, Times Higher Education reported this week that Teesside University has become the first British university to have its HTS suspended.
The National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland has hit out at the UK government after five Scottish colleges lost their licences to recruit international students this month under new UK Border Agency (UKBA) rules.
Cardonald, Anniesland, Stow, Reid Kerr and Motherwell colleges – all Further Education institutions – have had their Highly Trusted Sponsor Status (HTS) revoked or downgraded, and will be unable to recruit international students unless the decisions are overturned. Students at two of the colleges could be deported within 60 days.
NUS Scotland has written to the UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, asking her to help find new colleges for the students affected. It also called for a review of how student visa regulations are being implemented at smaller institutions in the UK.
“No student should ever be removed from their course – and worse, the country – for something which they had no control over,” Graeme Kirkpatrick, NUS Scotland Deputy President, said in a separate statement.
“However, this is more than an issue for international students. In these tough financial times, the contribution of international students to their communities is something that should never be underestimated.”
Under rules introduced by UKBA last year, colleges must meet six requirements (in areas such as visa refusal rates and course completion rates) to remain an HTS with eligibility to recruit non-EEA students.
“No student should ever be removed from their course for something which they had no control over”
It is understood that Cardonald College and Stow College, both in Glasgow, lost their licences earlier this month after failing to keep adequate attendance records. Up to 41 students at Cardonald and 150 at Stow now face deportation before the completion of their courses unless new sponsor colleges can be found.”
UKBA is said to be in talks with the colleges about how to enable students to complete their programmes in June before having to leave the UK.
Anniesland, Motherwell and Reid Kerr meanwhile have been downgraded, some because more than 15% of overseas students left before the end of their course. The colleges can no longer recruit international students but have six months to reapply for HTS.
NUS Scotland would not comment on whether the colleges had been at fault but stressed the importance of fair rules concerning international students in Scotland. Kirkpatrick said overseas students contributed an estimated £30m to the regional economy annually.
“The Westminster government’s new rules for international students are completely misguided and are holding back Scotland’s education sector,” he said.
“Our members risk losing their status due to circumstances often outside their control”
The Scottish government has also voiced concerns while in the Herald, John Henderson, chief executive of Scotland’s Colleges, questioned the fairness of the rules for smaller colleges.
“The proportional measures of compliance can mean our members risk losing their status due to circumstances often outside their control,” he said.
In other UKBA news, Times Higher Education reported this week that Teesside University has become the first British university to have its HTS suspended.
