UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

UK University lecturers object to policing foreign students

Friday, 29 May 2009

Lecturers at the UK universities are strongly opposed to the new tough immigration rules introduced under the Tier 4 Student category.

The Tier 4 Student category of the points-based system, introduced in April 2009, applies to non-EU staff and students as part of the Government's determination to combat terrorism.

The new rules not only require that students carry biometric identity cards but also that universities monitor and report any unexplained absences and suspicions of breaching immigration laws to the Home Office.

Lecturers at the University and College Union (UCU) annual conference will argue that the system turns "educators into immigration snoopers" by damaging the reputation of UK higher education.

The UCU argues that the new rules mean staff are in effect required to act as "Home Office agents" to police those non-EU staff and students, and, failing which, lecturers could be fined and even sent to jail.

Each year foreign students coming to study in the UK contribute approx. £8.5bn for the UK economy. Universities are concerned that the new system will put off international students and damage the international reputation of UK higher education institutions.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said:

"Politically, UCU is absolutely opposed to this legislation and we know that many members have strong and principled moral objections as members of society and as professional educators.

One of the more pernicious effects of this new system will be to turn our members into an extra arm of the police force, placing monitoring and reporting responsibilities on to academic and support staff. It is vital that we build the campaign against the new points-based system, working with external organisations, sister unions and students."

However, she warned members against boycotting the duties:

"Members need to be clear that these duties are part of a legal obligation on universities, and that the union's protection of members cannot extend to endorsing a breach of the law relating to the points-based system, or defending members who do so."

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