Dhaka, Nov 2– Over 450 education providers in the UK will no longer be able to sponsor new international students.
In its bid to curtail the abuse of education visa and raise standards, the UK government has tightened the students' visa system.
In all, those 450 colleges bring more than 11,000 students into the UK each year, says a British high commission press statement.
"Tough new rules and enforcement action will not only reduce their abuse, but new norms will also help ensure that genuine international students receive the highest quality education," it said.
More measures will be introduced in April 2012.
New UK Border Agency regulations have significantly raised the standards that the education providers must meet before they can recruit international students.
So far, over 400 colleges have lost their right to recruit international students after they failed to sign up for the new inspection system.
In addition, a targeted UK Border Agency investigation into more than 100 colleges has led to 51 institutions losing their licences to recruit international students.
The investigation followed a spike in applications from South Asia just before the English language requirement rules were tightened in April.
More than 4,500 applications to study have been either refused or withdrawn as a result.
One college advertised classes even though the website said it was shut for maintenance, while another could not even produce a list of students enrolled or a timetable of classes.
On inspection, others could not produce any record of student attendance, or evidence of checking student qualifications.
Immigration minister Damian Green said, "Widespread abuse of the student visa system has gone on for too long and the changes we have made are beginning to bite.
"Too many institutions were offering international students an immigration service rather than an education and too many students have come to the UK with the aim of getting work and bringing over family members. Only first-class education providers should be given licences to sponsor international students.
"We have curbed the opportunities to work during study and bring in family members. We have also introduced new language requirements to ensure we only attract genuine students whose primary motivation is to study."
Colleges that want to bring in international students must also meet new higher sponsorship standards to ensure they are fulfilling their immigration responsibilities, the minister said.
The institutions that do not meet these standards will be removed from the sponsors' register, he warned.
The UK Border Agency has also created a list of more than 2,000 banks and financial institutions from which it will no longer accept evidence to show that a student has sufficient funds to support himself and pay for his course.
If a bank is on this list, a student providing supporting documentation from that institution will not be granted a visa.
However, the list for Bangladesh has not yet been published.
The post-study work route will close and students wishing to stay and work in a graduate level occupation will be able to apply under Tier 2 of the points-based system.
Students will be able to study for a maximum of 5 years above degree level (with some exceptions) and there will be restrictions on work placements for non-university courses, the new norms lay down.
The UK Border Agency continues to work closely with the UK education sponsors and take action against those sponsors that do not comply with the requirements of education provision and immigration control.
The reform of student visas was announced by the home secretary in March this year and the measures are being introduced in phases, according to the statement.
The first set of changes came into effect in April, including tougher sponsor accreditation and inspection requirements and English language requirements for students.
The second set became effective in July, including new rules on the ability of students to work and bring dependants.
FROM:
bdnews24.com
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