Outcry from lecturers over plans to make them ’spies’.University of London staff have fiercely denounced new government rules which will force university staff to report international students who fail to turn up to class to border authorities.
An implementation plan for new immigration rules, published on October 30th, will see universities receive licences from the United Kingdom Border Authority (UKBA) and operate as students’ sponsors, reporting those who do not enrol, miss tutorials or coursework submissions, or who discontinue their studies.
The measures, which will be phased in over a twelve month period starting in March 2009, require universities to acquire licences in order to recruit students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), and are part of a new Australian-style points based immigration system.
A letter published in the Guardian newspaper and signed by over 200 academics in the 24 hours before it was printed said: “The new immigration rules for overseas students to be introduced in March 2009 by the Border Agency are very worrying”.
“The university is being asked to act as an immigration officer and set up a surveillance unit over these students. This goes far beyond the present monitoring of student progress systems in universities, which has as its basic purpose assisting students to reach their full potential.”
At the time of going to press, the number of signatories had reached around 360, including staff from the LSE, SOAS, UCL and Birkbeck College, the letter’s author Ian Grigg-Spall said.
Speaking to London Student, Mr Grigg-Spall, a lecturer at Kent University Law School and Academic chair of the National Critical Lawyers Group, said: “This is a matter of principle. It breaches academic freedom and universities’ autonomy.”
“Relationships between staff and students rely on trust, this creates mistrust and destroys that relationship”.
“The idea that universities must know where students are at all times is just wrong as a matter of principle,” he added.
Read more at London Student
UCU Prseident Sally Hunt, said: "We have grave concerns that new rules on monitoring foreign students have been pulled together without any consultation with the people who would be tasked with their implementation. We do not believe it is appropriate or effective to task colleges and universities with the policing of immigration."See facebook campaign from NUS International Students Officer
OMG, i just received this email on the Students' Union presidents mailing list. I cant tell you where's it from at the mo but PLEASE, please do email ME at revolution@soas.ac.uk and i will pass it on.
"We’ve been alerted to a practice on our acting courses, where lecturers are insisting students take a breathalyser test on a Wednesday morning and denying them access to classes if they “fail”.
Students tell us that this has been brought in across the acting courses to treat students “equally” as there is a perceived need to protect those engaging in Stage combat practicals and training.
Our initial thoughts are:
Any reactions, input, ideas or examples of this occurring elsewhere will be very welcome…
Thanks!"
On Friday the 12th Sept Newcastle College invited onto campus the army in order to do a presentation to recruit students with the promise of financial assistance for college and University fees. This time last year the Students’ Union passed a policy against Army recruitment on campus and banned the Army from the fresher’s fair.
Last Friday an emergency protest was organised by students at Newcastle College. Artem and other students went into the presentation to ask simply ‘How many of our students would be killed’? for this he was threatened with security and in the end left of his free will.
The following Monday Artem was told by phone that he was being suspended for a week pending an investigation and a disciplinary hearing on the 22nd Sept.
No other student involved in the protest is being punished for the same activities that Artem carried out. This is simply a way to spread fear and intimidation in order to paralyse any student activism, democracy or accountability.
Those of us who wish to defend our rights to speak out, to vote, to stand in elections or to organise on campus as activists should have the right to do so. Democracy and human rights are not something that you leave at the doorstep of the college but something that you carry with you everywhere you go.
Defend democracy, defend our right to speak out, defend Artem Liebenthal!
What you can do...
1) Email to complain to the college > linda.moore@ncl-coll.ac.uk
2) Email Artem in support > artem_88@web.de
3) Join the protest (details below)
4) Get support from your Students’/Trade Union
Join the protest
PROTEST OUTSIDE HIS DISCIPLINARY HEARING
MONDAY 22ND SEPT 12NOON, ASSEMBLE ON
ELSWICK EAST TERRACE
(Please bring union banners, delegations etc. etc.)
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