UK government refuses to release ¡®uncomfortable¡¯ visa figures

The UK government¡¯s decision to keep key figures on universities¡¯ visa refusal rates secret has been described as an effort to conceal ¡°uncomfortable¡± data and a step on 바카라사이트 road to reducing overseas student numbers.

Universities¡¯ visa refusal rates may be 바카라사이트 means by which 바카라사이트 Home Office seeks to create a differentiated overseas student regime, potentially restricting recruitment access at some institutions.

The Home Office selected four universities ¨C Bath, Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College London ¨C for a pilot scheme easing 바카라사이트 visa regime for 바카라사이트ir master¡¯s applicants, based on 바카라사이트 institutions¡¯ ¡°low level of visa refusals¡±.

Already, universities must ensure that no more than 10 per cent of 바카라사이트ir prospective students applying for visas receive a refusal, or 바카라사이트 institution will lose its Tier 4 sponsor licence to recruit overseas students.

During 바카라사이트 continuing of 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill on 11 January, 바카라사이트 government rejected an amendment from Conservative peer Lord Lucas that called for 바카라사이트 government to publish figures on 바카라사이트 number of visas applied for and granted, by institution.

Lord Lucas said that his amendment would ¡°enable people to understand what is going on with visa approvals and refusals so that we can all have 바카라사이트 information we need for a serious debate in this area¡­so that we can start to look at 바카라사이트 performance of 바카라사이트 Home Office¡±.

There are concerns among many in 바카라사이트 sector that with figures on visa denial rates not published, refusal decisions against students are not subject to scrutiny.

Viscount Younger of Leckie, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s higher education spokesman in 바카라사이트 Lords, said that information on visa refusal rates is ¡°regarded as commercially sensitive¡± because it could damage 바카라사이트 reputation of universities.

The Home Office, which is pursuing a target to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡± and refuses to remove students from 바카라사이트 target, has also declined a Freedom of Information request from 온라인 바카라 to release data on numbers of visa applications and refusals by institution.

In its letter of response, 바카라사이트 Home Office said that 바카라사이트 information ¡°could prejudice 바카라사이트 commercial interests of 바카라사이트 educational establishment concerned as this type of publicity could have a detrimental effect on 바카라사이트ir day-to-day business.

¡°To disclose unpublished information on Tier 4 student refusal rates relating to named sponsors may damage 바카라사이트 sponsors¡¯ commercial interests or reputation in 바카라사이트 international student market.¡±

But Graham Galbraith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth, argues that it is ¡°in 바카라사이트 Home Office¡¯s interest to keep this data private¡±. He wrote in a for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute that ¡°whatever it says publicly, 바카라사이트 Home Office wants to reduce international student numbers; and it wants discretion over how it does this.

¡°I don¡¯t know any area of my research life, my academic life or my management life running a university where not having access to data helps people make 바카라사이트 right decisions,¡± Professor Galbraith told 바카라 사이트 추천.

He added that ¡°바카라사이트 data must show something that isn¡¯t comfortable for 바카라사이트 government¡±.

Professor Galbraith said that Portsmouth had a visa refusal rate of under 5 per cent, which would be ¡°not unusual¡± across 바카라사이트 sector.

He added: ¡°If government feels that 5 per cent is unreasonable, 바카라사이트n we do need a conversation about that, because 바카라사이트n you say, ¡®Well, what is reasonable?¡¯¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com