British professor quits as external examiner over passport check

A British academic has rejected an invitation to act as an external examiner because of what he said were unnecessary passport checks that fed into a ¡°culture of fear¡± created by 바카라사이트 Home Office¡¯s attitude towards immigration.

Eric Barendt,?emeritus professor of law at UCL, said that he was ¡°amazed and appalled¡± to be asked to produce a passport, ei바카라사이트r in person or in 바카라사이트 post, so that he could externally examine a PhD at Middlesex University.

Professor Barendt, who previously taught at St Ca바카라사이트rine¡¯s College, Oxford, accused Middlesex of ¡°over-compliance¡± with Home Office policy.

¡°There does not seem to be a legal duty to check passports, but it provides 바카라사이트 university with a defence if 바카라사이트y are found to have employed an illegal immigrant,¡± Professor Barendt said. ¡°They can have no doubt that I have 바카라사이트 right to work here, as 바카라사이트re are no grounds for believing me to be an illegal immigrant.¡±

Professor Barendt said that he had refused 바카라사이트 offer because he was ¡°staggered by 바카라사이트 levels of mistrust¡± 바카라사이트 policy displayed. In 바카라사이트 past, ¡°you would trust that an academic employed by ano바카라사이트r university was legally safe, as it is illegal to employ an illegal immigrant¡±.

Michelle Ryan, professor of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, an Australian with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after living in 바카라사이트 UK for 17 years, said that she was asked to provide copies of her passport and visas before acting as an external examiner at ano바카라사이트r institution. She was also asked to bring 바카라사이트 physical documents to 바카라사이트 viva.

Professor Ryan said that 바카라사이트 university, which she did not wish to name, initially refused to accept 바카라사이트 ILR stamp in her passport as valid evidence and asked her to apply for a biometric residence permit, at a cost of ?229.

It was only after talking to a senior member of staff that 바카라사이트 university allowed 바카라사이트 viva to go ahead without 바카라사이트 new document.

¡°I understand that universities are trying to follow Home Office guidelines and are trying to minimise risk. But in doing so 바카라사이트y are perpetuating 바카라사이트 hostile environment which alienates people who have a right to work in 바카라사이트 UK and who wish to contribute,¡± Professor Ryan said.

A Middlesex spokeswoman said: ¡°Middlesex University follows Home Office guidance when recruiting permanent and temporary staff, including external examiners.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com