India to tick off UK on varsity rap

LONDON: With more than 600 Indian students facing deportation after United Kingdom's Border Agency revoked the London Metropolitan University's licence to admit students from non-European Union countries , the Indian government is likely to convey its displeasure to British authorities.

It's also investigating whether there has been "discrimination" against bona fide Indian students who may be deported before completing their studies as a result of Thursday's decision.

Sources revealed the British foreign office is apprehending an angry representation from India. While the British home office wouldn't confirm this, a ministry spokesperson said the total number of students impacted by UKBA's move could rise to 3,000. An Indian high commission spokesperson said that a diplomat had visited LMU for fact finding.

The high commission is unlikely to defend students who over-stayed after their UK visas expired. But it's expected to take a dim view of unsettling those who've not committed any infringement . India will argue against different rules for an Indian student from an EU national. It'll also say London Met students from EU are not being penalised for their insufficient knowledge of English or for their inadequate attendance.

Those who still have valid visas have been given 60 days to find a place at another university to continue their studies . A wide section of the British media have backed the Indian stance asking why they can't pursue this at LMU and, instead, go through agonizing process of seeking alternatives.

Chris Bryant, the opposition Labour party's immigration spokesman, said the decision would bring "lasting damage to the international reputation of the British university system which brings billions into the UK economy every year".

However, higher education minister David Willetts said, "It's important that genuine students who are affected through no fault of theirs are offered prompt advice and help, including, if necessary, with finding other institutions at which to finish their studies."

In recent years, the demand for admission into LMU, seemingly an easy access institute, has been so great in India that it opened recruitment offices in Delhi and Chennai. A former lecturer at LMU, writing anonymously in the The Guardian, claimed, "Many of these overseas students that I have encountered are seriously struggling with speaking, listening, reading and writing in English." He further alleged, "I have even been asked to consider raising grades on non-EU students because a significant number of failures might affect recruitment."

Non-EU students pay higher fee than their EU counterparts; and are crucial to the financial well-being of a number of British universities. Foreign students contribute ?12.5 billion to UK 'economy. A recent National Union of Students survey of more than 900 international students found that 40% of students would not recommend studying in Britain to a friend. In the past year, grant of student vias by the UK has fallen by 75,000 - a drop of 21%.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2EtZ0dgPFr33I/story01.htm

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