UCU responds to government statement on student visas

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We are studying the government statement in detail but have long warned about the issues raised by the expansion of private colleges often substantially funded by the taxpayer. We have also previously raised concerns about the levels of oversight that some universities have of their London based sub-campuses.

Whatever the truth of the current situation there is little doubt that the encroaching marketisation of higher education encouraged by this government and the previous ones has created a culture in which bums on seats are often the top priority, over riding all others including educational considerations. 

Our main concern now is for the immediate welfare of the many thousands of students unwittingly caught up in these investigations but we are also concerned that the rhetoric around this will once again give the impression abroad that the UK is not a welcoming place for international students.'