Betrayed, dishearten, disgusted and petrified – this is how most of these 2000 non-EU undergraduate students of London Metropolitan University feel about the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) orders to revoke the university’s license to sponsor non-EU students. This means that these students will have to find alternate institutions to sponsor them, or face deportation within next 60days. OK, UKBA and Metropolitan University are in disagreement on enrollment of students with visa issues or attendance record monitoring, but does it mean punishing the students for the failure of authorities to implement the given guidelines? No one will question the authorities’ right to stop illegal immigrants entering the country disguised as students but that should not mean endangering the future of genuine students who have already spent thousands of pounds on their studies, stay and flights; some of them may be in their final year/semester of studies? Generally, the annual tuition fee costs around 10,000 to 15,000 pounds.
It is obvious that it’s an impossible task for these students to get enrolled in other universities due to higher fee or session constraints. UKBA has made up this decision based on a random sampling of around 100-250 students; such sampling may be effective for stock market or horse racing, not on human beings. We urge British education and UKBA authorities to look into this burning issue and let the genuine students to continue their education in the Metropolitan University, provided they prove their genuineness by presenting attendance and studies record; genuine students with visa issues should also get a one-time option to regularize the visa to cover the course length.
UKBA’ decision is a wake-up call for all the British universities. Thus all of these universities should implement UKBA guidelines as soon as possible, but without endangering the future of those who are already enrolled and proceeding with studies.
MASOOD KHAN
Saudi Arabia