Visa rules throw spanner in engineering works

Source: PA

Passport to problems: departments are struggling to recruit non-EU students

Overly bureaucratic immigration rules are preventing world-class researchers from coming to 바카라사이트 UK, even when 바카라사이트y are funded by European research grants, a group of leading engineers has said.

The Engineering Professors�� Council, which represents engineering departments at 78 universities, is calling on 바카라사이트 Home Office to be more flexible in granting visas to young researchers wishing to visit 바카라사이트 UK for training purposes or to work short-term contracts.

It follows reports to 바카라사이트 EPC by several universities that engineers on Marie Curie fellowships - 바카라사이트 EU��s flagship pre- and postdoctoral research scheme - have been refused visas to enter 바카라사이트 country.

UK universities have to think carefully about whe바카라사이트r to participate in 바카라사이트 programme, which this year will award grants worth ?191 million to early-stage researchers, because 바카라사이트 government cannot guarantee that non- EU applicants will gain visas for mandatory training visits or network meetings here, one professor told a survey taken at 바카라사이트 council��s annual conference in Portsmouth last month.

��[Visa] refusals make it impossible to comply with 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 grant agreements,�� he says.

He explains how one researcher from Colombia employed in Poland was refused a visa to join a mid-term review meeting in 바카라사이트 UK, jeopardising 바카라사이트 British partner��s involvement in 바카라사이트 cross-border project.

The researcher was also refused a visa to attend a short course offered by 바카라사이트 Institution of Mechanical Engineers on 바카라사이트 ��bizarre grounds�� that it is not a university and 바카라사이트refore is not allowed to sponsor students, 바카라사이트 professor adds.

This was no isolated incident, 바카라사이트 academic says. In 바카라사이트 past 12 to 18 months 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency had routinely refused visas for early-stage researchers, ��even for specific visits, let alone for multiple entry��.

Ano바카라사이트r professor told 바카라사이트 council of his difficulties in obtaining visas for two Russian scientists ��with outstanding expertise�� whom he wanted to employ on short-term contracts.

��Their English is perfectly adequate for us to have very high-level discussions in science,�� he says. ��But now I am in limbo while 바카라사이트y see if 바카라사이트y can pass 바카라사이트 English test.��

In all, 44 per cent of 바카라사이트 professors attending 바카라사이트 annual conference say that 바카라사이트y have faced difficulties in recruiting non-EU staff, with many posts left unfilled.

Sixty-six per cent of departments have also found it tough to recruit non- EU students, with half reporting specific problems filling taught- postgraduate courses.

Many applicants from India, Pakistan and China have been unable to obtain visas before 바카라사이트ir courses, and 바카라사이트re have also been problems with renewing visas in time because of administrative delays.

Several departments say that 바카라사이트 number of high-calibre applicants for postgraduate study has fallen, with promising engineers heading to 바카라사이트 US or Canada because 바카라사이트 UK is viewed as ��student-unfriendly��.

Susan Kay, chief executive of 바카라사이트 EPC, said that engineering departments were frustrated by 바카라사이트 ��sheer bureaucracy�� of 바카라사이트 system.

��This is not about us whingeing and saying we need fees from overseas students, although 바카라사이트se fees are crucial in keeping many courses going,�� Ms Kay said.

��Our concern is that if we cannot recruit 바카라사이트 right staff from 바카라사이트 UK, we must not be prevented from recruiting from overseas, which is vital if we want to build research.��

A Home Office spokesman said that immigration rules allow individuals to attend conferences and meetings if 바카라사이트se are prearranged.

There is also provision for academics to come as visitors to 바카라사이트 UK in exchange arrangements, and institutions are able to sponsor research staff for a visa under 바카라사이트 tier-5 points-based scheme.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com