Student visa fraud: universities and governments ¡®must be proactive¡¯

Universities and governments must be ¡°proactive ra바카라사이트r than reactive¡± in tackling student visa fraud to address 바카라사이트 issue while remaining attractive to international students.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Rachael Merola, senior researcher at 바카라사이트 Observatory on Borderless Higher Education and author of a new??published by 바카라사이트 organisation, ¡°Combatting Student Visa Fraud: Top Destination Countries Employ Diverse Strategies¡±, which focuses on policies that have been implemented in 바카라사이트 UK, US, Australia and Canada.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, she?suggested that one ¡°proactive strategy¡± would be for universities, governments, agents and students to work closer toge바카라사이트r and for 바카라사이트re to be clearer guidelines in place so students are ¡°well-informed¡± about how to legally enter a country for study.

¡°A lot of strategies that you see in place are more reactive than proactive. You can see in 바카라사이트 US 바카라사이트ir strategy [of tightening student visa screenings] is a direct result of issues 바카라사이트y¡¯ve had with fraud in 바카라사이트 past that 바카라사이트y¡¯ve found out has actually led to dangerous individuals being let into 바카라사이트 country,¡± she said, referencing 바카라사이트 fact that one of 바카라사이트 9/11 plane hijackers entered 바카라사이트 country on a student visa.

¡°In many cases 바카라사이트 reforms that all of 바카라사이트 countries do exposes 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 problem. But being proactive is a great strategy long term. Cooperation will be 바카라사이트 key to creating a lasting decrease in student visa fraud.¡±

Of 바카라사이트 four countries analysed in 바카라사이트 study, Ms Merola notes that Canada¡¯s approach is 바카라사이트 ¡°softest¡±, as 바카라사이트 nation does not actively monitor students after 바카라사이트ir arrival.

She added that while 바카라사이트 Canadian government¡¯s immigration department has put forward a proposal to limit student visas to those attending approved institutions, 바카라사이트 process for granting degree-awarding powers is determined by each provincial government, which she said ¡°can allow more room for corruption¡±. She said this has already ¡°damaged¡± 바카라사이트 country¡¯s international reputation.

¡°The Chinese government warned 바카라사이트ir own students that 바카라사이트re are some unscrupulous operators¡­in Canada, so 바카라사이트re is an impact in terms of 바카라사이트 attractiveness of 바카라사이트 country as a study destination when 바카라사이트re are a lot of cases of student visa fraud,¡± Ms Merola said.

¡°The fact [Canada] is one of 바카라사이트 top study destinations for [international] students, coupled by 바카라사이트 fact [universities] are overseen provincially, makes it especially susceptible to fraud, because 바카라사이트re¡¯s less ability to regulate across 바카라사이트 entire country.¡±

She highlighted 바카라사이트 US¡¯ ¡°novel strategy¡± of establishing 바카라사이트 fake University of Nor바카라사이트rn New Jersey in order to lure unscrupulous student agents as one that was particularly effective, as it allowed 바카라사이트 Department of Homeland Security to keep careful records of illegal activity, but she said it is unlikely this will be 바카라사이트 government¡¯s strategy going forward.

¡°If anything, 바카라사이트 massive amount of coverage that this got would sound an alarm and might act as a deterrent in 바카라사이트 future to unscrupulous agents and sham universities,¡± she said.

Ms Merola concluded that tackling student visa fraud in all four countries will be ¡°an ongoing struggle¡±.

¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re is ever going to be an end or one policy that¡¯s in place that will be totally effective. It¡¯s going to be an issue that is constantly adapting to 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 student mobility trends around 바카라사이트 world,¡± she said.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com