- Conference
- 2013 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 18 September 2012
- Decision
- Carried
Conference is appalled at the Coalition Government’s attack on international students with a move to deport more than 2,600 students currently studying at London Metropolitan University. The University’s licence to teach and recruit students from outside of the European Union was revoked on 29th August 2012, which means that these students most of which are of Black origin will soon have only 60 days to find a place at another university or be forced to leave the country without completing their studies.
It is reported that the UK Border Agency’s decision to revoke its Highly Trusted Status for sponsoring of international students is based on their view that one in four of the overseas students at the university did not have valid visas. It is clear that immigration policy has influenced this decision as the Coalition Government seeks to reduce immigration figures.
Nicola Dandridge University UK chief Executive said the UK Border Agency had made “an extraordinary decision and that penalising legitimate students is disproportionate and it is damaging to our international reputation”.
Liam Burns, NUS President, said “Politicians need to realise that a continued attitude of suspicion towards international students could endanger the continuation of higher education as a successful export industry. The heavy-handed decision makes no sense for students, no sense for institutions and no sense for the country”.
The decision to include international students in the statistics of permanent migrants is unclear and needs to be reviewed. UNISON London Metropolitan branch in conjunction with UCU have requested that governors go back to the UK Border Agency and the Home Office to demand an amnesty for all of their international students affected by the revocation, to allow them to continue to study at the university and complete their degrees and that international students are taken out of the immigration statistics.
Conference calls on the NBMC to work with the NEC:
1)Encourage branches to sign the petition for amnesty for international students at London Metropolitan University
2)Encourage members to write to their MP to sign the Early Day motion 437 to reverse the decision of the UK Border Agency to suspend London Metropolitan University’s right to recruit overseas students
3)Call on Labour Link to write to the Home Office and the university to seek that they work together to resolve any administrative issues as the consequences of this decision are very damaging and will have serious consequences for all concerned.
4)Continue to support the campaign for amnesty and any other support as set out by UNISON in conjunction with UCU.