Educators challenge points based immigration policy

New country, new language, new people, new school. As if international students studying in the UK didn't deal with enough challenges, the UK Border Agency launched a "new" immigration system that, as their Web site states, will "ensure that only those with the right skills or the right contribution will be able to come to the United Kingdom to work and study."

The "points based immigration system" has been implemented in phases since February 2008.

For the academic community, there are five requirements:

1. Schools must complyAll educational providers will need a UK Border Agency (UKBA) Licence if they want to teach international students. Schools who comply fully will receive an "A Rated License", while schools that meet most requirements will receive "B Rated License", and must work out a timetable to meet the A-level or risk having their license revoked entirely.

2. Students must prove their worthStudents need an academic track record so that, as the UK Border Agency puts it, there won't be a flow of "bogus students who may target genuine education providers to enroll on low level courses." Students must also prove their financial stability.

3. Students and schools must form a relationshipStudents must connect with a school and prove a "Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies", which is basically a pledge that the school thinks the student can thrive in the academic setting.

4. UKBA will personally check all documentsSimply put: UKBA makes the final decision, and can reject students if it suspects forged documents.

5. This is the kicker: Schools must keep close tabs on students once they are in the UK.

They must take attendance of students, "lock" their visa so that the student may not change schools, and report to the UKBA no more than 10 days after a student has withdrawn or stopped attending classes. Schools also must report on students who miss 10 "interactions", or tutorials, classes, assignments or meetings.

The new policies have spurred discussion on a number of questions:

What is the role of the academic community in policing international students?Does this method of policing compromise academic freedom and integrity?How will the relationship between educator and student change with the new requirements?

Educators from the Goldsmiths Centre for Cultural Studies at the University of London have answered these questions in a to-the-point petition that voices major concerns with the new policy.

According to the petition, points based immigration policy:-breaches human rights to mobility, privacy and education-discriminates against international students, a valuable part of the academic world-threatens the relationship between staff and students, "which should be one of trust, not of spying and control."-imposes unrealistic regulations that will increase workload for academic and administrative staff, possibly even threatening staff by expecting them to probe into the lives of students and limiting their ability to make their own judgements on students' well-being.

An article from the Institute of Race Relations lays it out flat:"The only reason for monitoring student activity or achievement should be to inform the best pedagogic, pastoral and ethical practices."

Sign the Centre for Cultural Studies’ petition online athttp://www.petitiononline.com/Overseas/petition.html

UK Border Agency Web sitehttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/...

IRR articlehttp://www.irr.org.uk/2009/may/bw000029.html