UK universities considering tougher rules for monitoring foreign student attendance

United Kingdom, 30th April: UK universities are likely to consider using stricter norms in a bid to keep a tab on attendance of foreign students.

Swipe cards for recording attendance in UK universities--Latest in this regard is using swipe cards for monitoring attendance of international students, informs a vice-chancellor of a UK university, Quintin McKellar.

Vice-chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, McKellar said introduction of electronic registration system was on the cards for proving the attendance of international students coming to the UK to study on UK Tier 4 visas. Crackdown by

UKBA to curb abuse of UK student visas— Having a real-time register is seemingly becoming the need of the hour, said Professor McKellar while addressing a gathering at the annual conference at the Higher Education Funding Council for England on 18th April this year.

At least, this is what the UKBA (UK Border Agency) is going to ask all universities in the UK to do it at the earliest, quipped McKellar. It may be worth mentioned that the UKBA officials had made a visit the campus of the University of Hertfordshire recently.

Whether the use of swipe cards might amount to discrimination or have any effect on civil liberties is another matter.

New ruling may require all higher education institutes wanting to get ‘highly trusted sponsor’ from the UKBA need to submit proof of the fact that all foreign students from non-EU (European Union) nations are studying actively in the institutes.

All higher education institutes need ‘highly trusted sponsor’ status for sponsoring international students. And in the absence of any electronic registration process for furnishing proof of students’ attendance, universities or institutes find it impossible to show evidence of student visa rules compliance, informed Professor McKellar.

Many UK institutes using electronic registration--Taking a cue from the widespread abuse of UK student visa process, a large number of universities are quick to use electronic registration process for tracking student attendance.

They are linking electronic chips in ID cards of the foreign students to its wi-fi system. However, the only thing worth consideration here is that lack of funds may prove an obstacle for introducing a system for monitoring international students’ attendance, said president of the National Union of Students, Liam Burns.