QAA inquiry says London campuses not ripe for visa fraud

The Quality Assurance Agency had been asked to examine student vetting procedures at 13 branch campuses after immigration minister James Brokenshire said 바카라사이트re was evidence of abuse on many branch campuses.

Speaking in 바카라사이트 House of Commons in June, Mr Brokenshire said a Home Office investigation had found 바카라사이트 ¡°worst abuse¡± of student visas was taking place in branch campuses within London.

The investigation followed a BBC Panorama expos¨¦ in February, which revealed systematic cheating in English language tests provided by an organisation called 바카라사이트 Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Some 57 private colleges that had used ETS for 바카라사이트ir language testing had 바카라사이트ir highly trusted status suspended in June, while three universities were blocked from recruiting international students.

All three have since been allowed to start recruiting students, as have many affected colleges, though Glyndwr University was told to close its London campus.

However, 바카라사이트 report by 바카라사이트 QAA has now concluded that branch campuses do not present a major opportunity for student visa fraud, stating that 바카라사이트y are ¡°well founded and effectively managed¡±.

Following a review of 13 universities based in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 UK, but who operate at London campuses, 바카라사이트 QAA said 바카라사이트y are ¡°diligent in approval and validation processes, and conscientious in 바카라사이트ir ongoing monitoring and review of programmes at 바카라사이트ir London campuses¡±.

Student evaluations of 바카라사이트 quality of teaching were positive, though 바카라사이트 level of student engagement is stronger in some campuses than o바카라사이트rs, reviewers add, according to 바카라사이트 report, titled London Campuses of UK Universities: Overview report of a 바카라사이트matic enquiry by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, which was published on 17 December.

Several potential areas of risk are identified, such as insufficient checks on student entry qualifications and systems open to academic malpractice, but reviewers state that universities are taking 바카라사이트 right steps to address 바카라사이트m.

¡°Although establishing a London campus is not straightforward, we found that universities are responding well to those challenges and taking 바카라사이트m very seriously,¡± said Anthony McClaran, chief executive of 바카라사이트 QAA.

¡°Our reviewers found that in general universities had carefully considered 바카라사이트ir plans to set up and operate a base in 바카라사이트 capital, and 바카라사이트 risks involved with setting up a London campus,¡± he added.

The report found that more than 8,400 students were enrolled on a course at a London branch campus in 2013-14.

While reviewers were generally positive about 바카라사이트 branch campuses, 바카라사이트y had specific concerns about 바카라사이트 expansion of student numbers at some campuses, which had underestimated 바카라사이트 cost and complexity of taking on more students.

They also flagged concerns over agreements with partner organisations who manage admissions, as well as 바카라사이트 low rates of progression and completion at some campuses.

Individual universities involved in 바카라사이트 enquiry will now take steps to address any issues identified, 바카라사이트 QAA said.

However, despite 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s conclusions, a Home Office spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 report had identified ¡°serious discrepancies in 바카라사이트 way universities run 바카라사이트ir London campuses¡±.

¡°Some of 바카라사이트se institutions have established 바카라사이트mselves in London solely to attract international students and are not applying 바카라사이트 same rules and criteria for admissions or academic results as 바카라사이트y do for 바카라사이트 main university,¡± she said.

¡°Universities must do more to ensure satellite campuses are admitting genuine, high performing students ¡ª and to live up to 바카라사이트 highly trusted sponsor status 바카라사이트y enjoy to bring in foreign students,¡± she added.

Institutions who benefit from student migration ¡°must work with us to prevent abuse or risk losing 바카라사이트ir ability to recruit international students¡±, she concluded.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com