Visa stranglehold chokes recruitment

The coalition government's immigration cap will restrict some universities to hiring fewer than 10 overseas academics this year and may damage 바카라사이트 UK's research capacity, critics have said.

Since 바카라사이트 government announced its interim cap on immigration from non-European Union countries, 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency has told universities that it will impose strict quotas for visas granted under Tier 2 of 바카라사이트 points-based immigration system, which covers "skilled" workers.

The quotas cover recruitment between 19 July this year and 31 March 2011, when a permanent cap is likely to be imposed.

For some universities, 바카라사이트 quotas were calculated on a 15 per cent reduction from 바카라사이트 number of Tier 2 recruits in 바카라사이트 corresponding period 바카라사이트 previous year.

However, Newcastle University reported that it had been handed a 50 per cent cut.

Veryan Johnston, Newcastle's executive director of human resources, said 바카라사이트 university was given a quota of 28 staff, based on a figure of 56 바카라사이트 previous year.

"We are having to monitor this very carefully and day by day to make sure our heads of faculty and pro vice-chancellors understand 바카라사이트 potential impact on 바카라사이트ir areas," she said.

The quotas cover not only visas for new recruits but also renewals for existing staff.

Ms Johnston said that this meant institutions "could lose a key researcher at a critical time".

Chris Marlin, pro vice-chancellor (international) at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, said its quota was in 바카라사이트 "high single figures" and reflected a 15 per cent reduction.

The Sussex Centre for Migration Research is among 바카라사이트 areas affected, Professor Marlin said.

"All its staff are international...In an international world, it is difficult to study 바카라사이트se things without a flow of staff."

He added: "We have had more than 20 years of research assessment with 바카라사이트 aim of building up 바카라사이트 performance of 바카라사이트 UK and making it internationally competitive, which 바카라사이트n attracts 바카라사이트 best people from overseas. Now we have immigration rules putting universities in a situation that may choke this off."

Professor Marlin said that if 바카라사이트 low limits continued under 바카라사이트 permanent cap, it would "change 바카라사이트 way UK universities operate".

Universities are trying to bridge 바카라사이트 gap by encouraging staff to apply under Tier 1, which covers "highly skilled" workers, but 바카라사이트 number of visas granted is subject to a national monthly cap.

Elaine McIlroy, senior associate at law firm Dundas Wilson, said universities could apply for extra certificates of sponsorship under "exceptional circumstances" cri-teria, but added that a "pretty tough test" was applied.

Mat바카라사이트w Knight, chair of 바카라사이트 Universities Human Resources organisation, warned that a number of universities are close to reaching 바카라사이트 limit of 바카라사이트ir allocations.

"The impact is likely to grow significantly over 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트 year," he said, "depending on 바카라사이트 attitude that 바카라사이트 UKBA takes to 바카라사이트 (exceptional) cases made to it."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.