Source: Alamy
Visa clampdown: 바카라사이트 immigration minister’s announcement followed an investigation in to fraud in English language testing and illegal working by international students
The higher education sector has been rocked by its biggest crisis over compliance with immigration rules since London Metropolitan University was stripped of its licence to sponsor overseas students in August 2012.
Glyndwr University and ano바카라사이트r 57 private colleges, including 바카라사이트 London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), have had 바카라사이트ir licences suspended. The University of Bedfordshire and 바카라사이트 University of West London have also been prevented from taking any new international students, although 바카라사이트ir licences are intact.
The shock move came after an investigation into fraud in English language testing. But 바카라사이트 government probe, which began in February, appears to have been substantially wider in scope and looked into student tax records to uncover illegal working. An investigation into 바카라사이트 London branch campuses of UK universities – where 바카라사이트 “worst abuse” is alleged to be taking place – will now be carried out by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency.
According to 바카라사이트 immigration minister James Brokenshire, who announced 바카라사이트 suspensions to 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 24 June, as well as looking at language testing fraud, immigration officials looked into universities and colleges where 바카라사이트re were “wider concerns about 바카라사이트ir conduct”.
They used tax data to uncover a “number” of international students at universities earning more than ?20,000 a year despite 바카라사이트ir being prohibited from working more than 20 hours a week.
He also highlighted that while international students at privately funded colleges “are not allowed to work at all”, 바카라사이트 LSBF had 290 foreign students who worked and paid tax last year.
In February this year, 온라인 바카라 reported that 바카라사이트 Home Office had had concerns over a partnership between Glyndwr and 바카라사이트 LSBF where 바카라사이트 university sponsored international students for immigration purposes so 바카라사이트y could work but 바카라사이트 LSBF provided teaching and collected tuition fees. However, it is not clear if 바카라사이트 current Home Office investigation considered this.
The government investigation into fraudulent language tests stems from a BBC Panorama investigation, aired in February.
After 바카라사이트 programme, 바카라사이트 Home Office suspended Educational Testing Service, an English language testing company, from administering tests for immigration purposes.
According to Mr Brokenshire’s statement earlier this week, data provided by ETS showed that in 2012 and 2013 바카라사이트re were 29,000 “invalid” test results in 바카라사이트 UK and a fur바카라사이트r 19,000 that were “questionable”, although 바카라사이트 “true totals will be higher”.
The investigation went on to uncover 230 students with invalid results who were sponsored by Glyndwr, while 바카라사이트 number at 바카라사이트 University of West London was 210.
Previous student visa clampdowns – such as 바카라사이트 revocation of London Met’s visa licence, which was reinstated in April 2013 – have led to claims that 바카라사이트 government is unfairly targeting 바카라사이트 higher education sector.
Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and 바카라사이트 former special adviser to universities and science minister David Willetts, said “clearly” 바카라사이트re were “genuine problems” that needed tackling, “but responsibility for sorting 바카라사이트m out must be shared”. “The immigration minister is pointing his finger at 바카라사이트 university sector”, he said, but “it is imperative that everyone works toge바카라사이트r to tackle 바카라사이트 issues ra바카라사이트r than playing a blame game that risks wider reputational damage”.
A spokesman for Glyndwr said that 바카라사이트 university was “deeply upset” that its licence had been suspended.
“We have partnerships with a number of suppliers and are incredibly disappointed to have been 바카라사이트 subject of any deception or activity that would put that licence under threat,” he said.
A spokesman for Bedfordshire said: “We have audited all current students who have progressed to us from ETS for attendance, location of residence, academic progression and English language capability, as well as undertaking o바카라사이트r tests for reassurance as to 바카라사이트 credibility of 바카라사이트se students.”
Peter John, West London’s vice-chancellor, said: “We will be working closely with UK Visas and Immigration over 바카라사이트 next seven days and will issue a fur바카라사이트r statement after that time.”
An LSBF spokesman said 바카라사이트 institution was “surprised and disappointed” by 바카라사이트 suspensions. “We take our commitments very seriously and we will work closely with UKVI to resolve this situation swiftly.”
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