Every year, thousands of international young people flock to Britain’s shores for the chance to study at universities in this country. However, thousands of students at London Metropolitan University (LMU) may prove to be extremely disappointed, as the institution has had its license to recruit and teach students from outside the European Union revoked.
Additionally, more than 2,000 existing students may face removal from the country following an investigation by the UK Border Agency. According to the UKBA, attendance at the capital’s higher education institute is not being monitored, meaning that many students may not in fact have the right to be in the country at all.
A task force has been established to advise students affected by the decision who now face a battle to remain in education. They will have to find another institution willing to sponsor them through the remainder of their studies or face deportation in the next several months.
As a result of the decision by Border Force, the government has now become involved in the issue, and says it wishes to make a full assessment of the number of students who will be offered a place at an alternative commercial property university in Britain before deportation orders are issued. Once this happens, students not granted the right to remain in the UK have 60 days to vacate the country, after which time they could be arrested by the Border Agency.
Damian Green, Immigration Minister, says that London Metropolitan University has failed to correct procedures in three areas which were identified by the UKBA six months ago. This includes accepting students who have no right to study in the UK, failing to provide evidence that students’ mandatory levels of spoken English had been achieved and attendance monitoring issues, meaning that the institution had no records of whether students were turning up to classes or not.
Vice Chancellor of London Metropolitan University, said that the UKBA’s accusations against the university were “not particularly cogent” and confirmed that London Met would be appealing against the decision.
He added; “I would go so far as to say that UKBA has been rewriting its own guidelines on this issue and this is something which should cause concern to all universities in the UK.”
However, UKBA has responded by saying that this is largely an isolated incident, and that other universities in the UK should not be unduly worried – provided, of course, that they are following the border agency’s guidelines when it comes to monitoring international students.
It said; “These are problems with one university, not the whole sector.
“British universities are among the best in the world – and Britain remains a top class destination for top class international students.”
The National Union of Students (NUS) meanwhile, has reacted angrily to the decision. It believes that current students should be allowed to complete their degrees, saying that the restrictions could have been limited to only future students to prevent huge disruption of international students’ lives.
Do you believe that commercial property universities, in this case London Metropolitan, should be penalised for failing to keep proper records of their international students? Do you agree with the NUS, that the new restrictions should apply only to future students rather than those who have been living and studying in the UK for perhaps one or two years already?
