Association of Colleges
AoC comment on media coverage of speech by Immigration Minister
07 September 2010
We are understandably concerned by the tone of recent public statements relating to international students and immigration – in particular, the inference that College international students are less beneficial to the UK than those studying at university. Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges are committed to supporting a robust immigration system that helps to ensure genuine international students are recruited by legitimate education institutions.
Colleges are proud of their worldwide reputation for quality, which helps to attract successful and hardworking international students from around the world to study in the UK. These students make an important cultural, academic and financial contribution to College life and the communities in which they live.
Colleges have comprehensive systems for monitoring students’ attendance, achievement and retention. AoC fully supports the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) drive to ensure robust recruitment practices are implemented and maintained throughout the education sector with the introduction of rigorous rules under the new Highly Trusted Sponsor status, a requirement for the recruitment of overseas students onto level 3, 4 and some level 5 courses.
AoC member Colleges are confident that the quality of their provision, students and strong retention rates will prove effective in ensuring that students fulfil the requirements of their visas and do not pose a risk to immigration in the UK.
AoC looks forward to working closely with UKBA on ensuring that the student route under the Points Based System is effective and fair access across the UK education sector.
View all news
