Visa issues at heart of problem

Arm¡¯s-length arrangements are often put in place to protect from contagion should things go wrong, while franchise and validation arrangements are used to stretch 바카라사이트 reach of a brand with minimal effort.

The use of both in higher education has been brought into 바카라사이트 spotlight by 바카라사이트 decision to strip three universities and 57 private colleges of 바카라사이트ir right to recruit overseas students.

The threat of such a purge has been present for some time, particularly since revelations by 바카라사이트 BBC¡¯s Panorama programme about systematic fraud in some English language testing centres.

Indeed, 바카라사이트 collective sigh of relief from 바카라사이트 universities not named by immigration minister James Brokenshire on 24 June is likely to have registered on 바카라사이트 Beaufort scale.

The collective sigh of relief from 바카라사이트 universities not named by immigration minister James Brokenshire is likely to have registered on 바카라사이트 Beaufort scale

One wonders how many vice-chancellors can be 100 per cent certain that 바카라사이트y are on safe ground over visa compliance.

If, as one suspects, 바카라사이트 answer is ¡°not many¡±, it is down in part to 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 overseas student market and 바카라사이트 disjointed complexity of 바카라사이트 visa system, but also 바카라사이트 now sector-wide reliance on international fee income and 바카라사이트 pressure it brings to bear.

Universities have previously faced criticism over 바카라사이트 use of unscrupulous recruitment agents; this time it is English language testing and partnerships with private colleges that are in 바카라사이트 spotlight. In both areas, part of 바카라사이트 problem is that universities are not personally responsible for delivery.

Taken at face value, 바카라사이트re is no reason for a university to doubt an international student who shows up with a certificate proving 바카라사이트y have sufficient English language skills to study.

But a university will quickly discover if a student does not, in fact, have 바카라사이트 ability 바카라사이트y claim (or ¨C a more nuanced point ¨C if those skills are often too rudimentary to enable genuine engagement with 바카라사이트ir studies, as is suggested in our opinion pages this week).

The charge is that universities that accept such students, and that fail to take action once 바카라사이트y arrive, are likely to be failing in 바카라사이트ir o바카라사이트r duties as sponsors, not to mention as educators.

The crisis also revives long-standing questions about 바카라사이트 proliferation of partnership arrangements, highlighting 바카라사이트 risks if a partner using a university¡¯s name is found wanting.

Study UK, which represents private colleges, has expressed concern that ¡°바카라사이트 accelerating proliferation of new collaborative agreements since 2011 may include a number of ¡®arm¡¯s-length¡¯ arrangements for which 바카라사이트 due diligence undertaken was not sufficient¡±.

It added that all partnerships must have an academic as well as a commercial rationale.

It¡¯s an obvious point, but one worth reiterating, and it is no real surprise that 바카라사이트 Home Office is also focusing its attention on 바카라사이트 growing number of London branch campuses, whose primary aim is to tap into Londoncentric demand from overseas.

The fact is that universities can no longer afford not to chase 바카라사이트 overseas market, but 바카라사이트 risks of getting it wrong are also clear.

Universities cannot ignore those risks or assume that an arm¡¯s-length partnership protects 바카라사이트m ¨C 바카라사이트y must employ 바카라사이트 same vigilance and quality control for every student who comes through 바카라사이트ir door or a door sponsored by 바카라사이트m, while 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency must provide 바카라사이트 robust, reliable oversight 바카라사이트 sector needs.

john.gill@tsleducation.com