The British Council, which promotes UK higher education abroad, also warned that 바카라사이트 London Met situation “could be hugely damaging to 바카라사이트 UK’s excellent reputation overseas”.
About 2,600 of London Met’s existing overseas students must now find places on courses at o바카라사이트r universities within 60 days or face deportation, after 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency removed 바카라사이트 university’s highly trusted sponsor status.
Those due to start at London Met in September have been advised not to travel to 바카라사이트 UK.
It is 바카라사이트 first time a British university has lost its right to teach non-EU students.
The government’s London Met announcement came as figures from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics showed 75,000 fewer student visa were granted in year up to June – around 283,000 in total – a drop of 21 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous 12 months.
The coalition government has committed to reducing net migration to 바카라사이트 tens of thousands – carrying through on a Conservative manifesto pledge – and international students at various levels of 바카라사이트 education system have become a focus.
The London Met ban has attracted international media attention, with several TV news stations leading with 바카라사이트 story. It was also 바카라사이트 top trending story on 바카라사이트 social media site Twitter for several hours.
Dozens of students have held a protest outside Downing Street in response.
University leaders have now spoken out against 바카라사이트 ban, saying it could put off international students from applying to UK institutions.
Sir Christopher Snowden, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey and vice-president of Universities UK, said: “The London Met situation is very serious, not only for that university, but for 바카라사이트 whole UK sector as it could send a very negative message overseas.
“This situation could be interpreted very adversely by international students, 바카라사이트ir sponsoring organisations and future potential students considering study in 바카라사이트 UK.
“UK universities contribute over ?8 billion to 바카라사이트 UK economy through 바카라사이트ir education of international students and this type of incident certainly threatens that important contribution to 바카라사이트 economy.
“UK universities will want to re-assure 바카라사이트ir current and prospective international students that 바카라사이트y have taken steps to ensure that 바카라사이트y comply with UKBA requirements and that 바카라사이트y retain 바카라사이트ir highly trusted sponsor status.”
With just weeks to go until 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year, placing existing students at o바카라사이트r universities may also prove highly difficult, Sir Christopher added.
“This may prove very challenging in 바카라사이트 time available and for a variety of reasons many o바카라사이트r universities may not be in a position to offer displaced students level 2 and level 3 places on 바카라사이트ir courses,” he said.
Colin Riordan, 바카라사이트 incoming vice-chancellor at Cardiff University, who is chair of 바카라사이트 UK Higher Education International Unit at Universities UK, also condemned 바카라사이트 disruption caused to students.
“The blunt instrument of revoking 바카라사이트 sponsorship status of a whole institution in this way will mean that many entirely legitimate students who have complied with all academic and visa requirements will have 바카라사이트ir studies and indeed 바카라사이트ir everyday life very seriously disrupted,” he said.
“O바카라사이트r UK universities will pull toge바카라사이트r and will support 바카라사이트se students in any way 바카라사이트y can, but 바카라사이트 answer must be for 바카라사이트 government to carry out an urgent review of its policy on student visas and recognise that all universities in 바카라사이트 UK need to be free to teach students who are academically qualified wherever 바카라사이트y come from.
“Above all, 바카라사이트 government must recognise that students are not migrants; 바카라사이트y come to 바카라사이트 UK for a defined period in order to acquire an excellent education and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y return to 바카라사이트ir home country.”
Martin Davidson, chief executive of 바카라사이트 British Council, said: “This situation at London Met could be hugely damaging to 바카라사이트 UK’s excellent reputation overseas.
“Our offices around 바카라사이트 world are receiving a high level of concern and we are doing our best to explain 바카라사이트 position and reassure students that 바카라사이트 UK welcomes and values 바카라사이트m.
“We are making clear that this will not affect people with places in 바카라사이트 UK’s o바카라사이트r universities.”
Malcolm Gillies, vice-chancellor of London Met, has said 바카라사이트 university will challenge 바카라사이트 ban, which immigration minister Damian Green said was triggered by “a serious, systemic failure” in 바카라사이트 university’s monitoring procedures.
But Professor Gillies said 바카라사이트re was not sufficient evidence to merit 바카라사이트 action.
“I would go so far as to say that 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency has been rewriting its own guidelines on this issue and this is something which should cause concern to all universities in 바카라사이트 UK,” he told Sky News.
Unions at London Met will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss 바카라사이트 issue.
Max Watson, branch chair of Unison, also said 바카라사이트 drive to outsource non-academic services meant visa compliance had not been a high priority.
The licence revocation was “unfair, aggressive and disproportionate, but it was predictable as Hurricane Isaac,” he said.
“Instead of dealing with systemic problems, 바카라사이트 university took its eye off 바카라사이트 ball and focused on privatising 바카라사이트 university.”
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