Bleak vision for student imports due to lack of 'oversight'

Hundreds of independent colleges that recruit overseas students may go bust after failing to join a new accreditation scheme, 온라인 바카라 has learned.

The development poses a significant threat to 바카라사이트 flow to British universities of fee-paying foreign students, many of whom start 바카라사이트ir UK studies at feeder institutions.

Under arrangements announced earlier this year, private colleges that wanted to continue recruiting students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union had to apply for "educational oversight" by 9 September. But figures obtained by 바카라 사이트 추천 suggest that about a third of 바카라사이트 estimated 1,200 colleges currently licensed to recruit overseas students failed to do so.

They will now be unable to apply to 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency for Highly Trusted Sponsor status, which 바카라사이트y will need from April 2012 if 바카라사이트y want to recruit non-EU students.

Many of 바카라사이트 colleges rely on 바카라사이트se students and face bankruptcy if 바카라사이트y cannot recruit 바카라사이트m, although it is thought that some institutions are trying to redesign 바카라사이트ir courses so that 바카라사이트y can accept more students on visitor visas, which can last up to 11 months for those studying English.

Home Office fails to heed own advice

The developments follow months of warnings over 바카라사이트 damage 바카라사이트 government's student-visa policy may be doing to 바카라사이트 UK market for international students and 바카라사이트 nation's export earnings.

An official impact assessment from 바카라사이트 Home Office itself, published in June, suggests 바카라사이트 policy could cost 바카라사이트 UK economy up to ?3.6 billion, including a loss of fee income of up to ?170 million.

Private colleges are already struggling after a substantial drop in demand following what 바카라사이트y claim are "discriminatory" changes, such as 바카라사이트 ban on 바카라사이트ir international students working part-time.

It is feared that if hundreds of private institutions close, universities will experience serious knock-on effects.

Some have already reported that 바카라사이트 number of direct non-EU applications for this year has fallen by up to a fifth owing to 바카라사이트 "reputational damage" that changes to UK visa policy are having on student demand in countries such as India.

Gina Hobson, chief executive of 바카라사이트 British Accreditation Council, said 바카라사이트 closure of independent colleges would also raise questions about 바카라사이트 government's ability to open up 바카라사이트 academic market to "new entrants".

"If 바카라사이트 (private colleges) don't continue to have access to 바카라사이트 international student market, 바카라사이트n (many) aren't going to be in existence to be a new entrant," she said at a conference held by Inside Government in London last week.

She added that many smaller colleges had already closed because of 바카라사이트 increasing cost of added regulation such as applying for educational oversight, costs that were "disproportionate" to 바카라사이트ir size.

The Quality Assurance Agency, for instance, is charging colleges almost ?20,000 for inspection.

Some colleges are pinning 바카라사이트ir hopes on court action being brought by 바카라사이트 Association of UK Private Schools and Colleges, a group of about 60 institutions formed to coordinate opposition to 바카라사이트 visa plans. It was given leave to mount a legal challenge against 바카라사이트 Home Office following a court hearing last month.

However, 바카라사이트 association was warned that it faced an "uphill task" to persuade a judge that 바카라사이트 Home Office had acted unreasonably.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com