The University of York has seen two tier four international students go missing in 2011/12, following government concerns earlier in the year that the immigration situation regarding universities left Britain’s reputation as a world-class centre for higher education facing “irreparable damage.”
The students were either “assumed to have withdrawn and were written off, or failed to respond following leave of absence” according to data revealed under the Freedom of Information Act.
Earlier this year, London Metropolitan University saw their sponsorship license for overseas students revoked as a penalty for the number of ‘bogus students’ who had been registered at the University, leaving 2,500 international students in danger of being deported.
University Senate of senior staff meeting minutes disclosed how the University recognised that “the sector is under pressure to demonstrate that it was compliant with UKBA requirements as regards monitoring of international students.”
International Students Association Officer Mike Anstey told Vision: “Having been deeply involved with the London Met issue, I fought hard on behalf of the students at York and YUSU to ensure publicity was drummed up and that there was a united front from York in support of the NUS and their attempts at aiding the London Met situation.”
The London MET issue prompted some concern this summer that York may not be implementing all the necessary precautions, and as such the University hoped to “improve aspects of the way we approach attendance monitoring” according to Registrar David Duncan. In July UKBA described the University of York as an “A-rated and highly trusted sponsor.”
Anstey said “it was important for the University to acknowledge that the welfare and status of international students here at York were of upmost priority and we had to ensure that they did everything they could to ensure this.
“The University of York have got these regulations in place to ensure that they are in compliance with Government regulations and to retain their highly trusted status.
“YUSU has been monitoring the situation and will continue to work alongside the University to ensure the students’ welfare is of top priority.”
The University issued a statement regarding the missing students saying: “If a student has missed ten consecutive required points of contact they are assumed to have withdrawn and we are obliged to inform UKBA in order to comply with the terms of our Highly Trusted Status.
“We work hard to avoid this situation by making strenuous efforts to contact students who miss points of contact and to avoid the situation where they are assumed to have withdrawn.
“Making sure that the University and our visa-holding students are compliant with the terms of our Highly Trusted Status and with the terms of the student’s visa is in our interests of the University and those of the individuals.”