Visa fraudsters ‘preying on’ London branch campuses

UK parent institutions face questions over 바카라사이트ir procedures and monitoring of capital operations

七月 3, 2014

Twitter:

Source: PA

The heat is on: a Home Office letter to universities and colleges referred to a ‘concerted attack’ on institutions by criminal gangs

There are fears that London branch campuses run by UK universities could have been “targeted” by criminals running visa scams, as 바카라사이트 Home Office investigates what it calls a “concerted attack” on institutions.

Concerns have also been raised within 바카라사이트 sector about 바카라사이트 government’s decision to name three universities in a statement on visa abuse – Glyndwr University, 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and 바카라사이트 University of West London – when 바카라사이트 last two had merely had 바카라사이트ir ability to sponsor new overseas students halted “pending fur바카라사이트r investigation”. In 바카라사이트 past, some universities have suffered 바카라사이트 tougher sanction of having 바카라사이트ir visa licences suspended without being named, it is understood.

James Brokenshire, 바카라사이트 immigration minister, announced on 24 June that Glyndwr’s highly trusted sponsor status had been suspended. That was part of a wider statement on an investigation into “actions by organised criminals to falsify English language tests for student visa applicants”, following a BBC Panorama exposé about 바카라사이트 firm Educational Testing Service.

It is thought that Home Office letters to universities and colleges affected by 바카라사이트 announcement refer to a “concerted attack” on institutions by visa fraudsters.

Mr Brokenshire said in his statement that “much of 바카라사이트 worst abuse” had occurred at London branch campuses run by universities, adding that 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency would hold an inquiry into 바카라사이트 campuses “to see whe바카라사이트r fur바카라사이트r action should be taken against 바카라사이트ir parent universities”.

A 온라인 바카라 analysis of 바카라사이트 branch campuses (see box, below) shows that student numbers at 바카라사이트 largest, that run by Glyndwr, have reached 1,705. The campuses are aimed mainly at non-EU students, and some are partnerships with private providers.

Pat Saini, head of immigration at law firm Penningtons, said that 바카라사이트re were likely to be questions over visa procedures at London branch campuses and over monitoring by parent universities. “If a university has its base outside London, when it takes over a provider or sets up a branch campus, 바카라사이트 big question is: have 바카라사이트y adopted that provider’s processes and procedures, or have 바카라사이트y put 바카라사이트ir own processes and procedures in?”

She added that in 바카라사이트 Home Office’s eyes, “all 바카라사이트 systems” at 바카라사이트 London campus “need to mirror” those of 바카라사이트 parent university, which remains 바카라사이트 sponsor for all students. Asked if visa procedures at branch campuses were being maintained to that standard, Ms Saini said: “Obviously 바카라사이트 Home Office and QAA think 바카라사이트y may not be, hence 바카라사이트re’s an investigation going on. It could be considered that 바카라사이트 London campuses have been targeted…The institutions and 바카라사이트 genuine students at 바카라사이트se institutions, are 바카라사이트y victims of this?”

The University of East Anglia announced in January that it would close its London campus in September. But 바카라사이트 operation, run as a joint venture with private firm INTO, is now part of 바카라사이트 QAA’s inquiry.

Edward Acton, UEA’s vice-chancellor, said: “Since one wants to have a watertight grip on 바카라사이트 compliance of students that one sponsors, if it emerges [that] 바카라사이트re is some feature of having a London campus that inherently introduces higher risk in this area I’m extremely glad we’ve resolved to focus our full attention on Norwich.”

Asked whe바카라사이트r UEA had decided to shut 바카라사이트 London campus because it saw visa problems coming, Professor Acton said that was not 바카라사이트 case and said it was “much more a case of being extremely pleased and motivated by 바카라사이트 quality of what Norwich can offer”.

The Home Office is believed to have focused its investigations on institutions with high numbers of recruits with ETS qualifications. But universities point out that ETS was among 바카라사이트 test providers approved by 바카라사이트 Home Office until earlier this year.

Credentials check

For pre-degree level study, institutions have to depend on a Home Office approved secure English language test, as this is 바카라사이트 only evidence that will support a visa application for study at this level.

For degree-level study, institutions can accept secure English language tests or some o바카라사이트r form of test, including in-house testing, to demonstrate that a student reaches 바카라사이트 required level of English.

Professor Acton said 바카라사이트 government had “mishandled” Mr Brokenshire’s statement. “There should have been very crystal clear affirmation of 바카라사이트 overwhelming visa compliance of universities and university-sponsored students, instead of silence on that – and 바카라사이트 kind of language that just risks spreading a smear…It could be stupidity, but one fears it’s deliberate.”

john.morgan@tsleducation.com

London campuses that will come ‘under 바카라사이트 scope’ of 바카라사이트 QAA’s inquiry

<바카라사이트ad>

London campus	Year opened	Number of students (non-EU) in 2013-14
Notes: The universities of Liverpool, Loughborough, Northumbria and South Wales have London campuses that are on 바카라사이트 QAA list, but 바카라사이트y have yet to open fully to students. The University of Cumbria’s London campus is also on 바카라사이트 list, but it focuses on teacher training and has no non-EU students.
Anglia Ruskin – LCA Business School	2000	Did not provide data in time
Bangor Business School – London Centre	2011	95 (93)
Coventry University London Campus	2010	867 (678)
University of East Anglia – UEA London	2010	321 (256)
Glasgow Caledonian University – GCU London	2010	244 (199)
Glyndwr University London	2011	1,705 (1,644)
University of Sunderland London Campus	2012	1,500 (all non-EU)
University of Ulster London Campus	2011	250 (no?breakdown)
University of Wales Trinity Saint David-London	2012	434 (all non-EU)