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| Foreign student visa review call | Foreign student visa review call |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rules allowing non-European students to stay in the UK after attending further education colleges should be reviewed, a government advisory panel says. | Rules allowing non-European students to stay in the UK after attending further education colleges should be reviewed, a government advisory panel says. |
| The Migration Advisory Committee says it is concerned students can obtain two-year visas regardless of the standard of the teaching or degree. | The Migration Advisory Committee says it is concerned students can obtain two-year visas regardless of the standard of the teaching or degree. |
| The rules form part of the points-based scheme to attract and retain highly-qualified and skilled workers. | The rules form part of the points-based scheme to attract and retain highly-qualified and skilled workers. |
| The government said it would consider the MAC report's findings. | The government said it would consider the MAC report's findings. |
| Immigration minister Phil Woolas said: "The points-based system is a powerful and flexible tool which means that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce." | Immigration minister Phil Woolas said: "The points-based system is a powerful and flexible tool which means that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce." |
| 'Not elitist' | 'Not elitist' |
| In the last academic year, 42,000 students from outside the European Economic Area were granted the visas to stay on after obtaining a degree. | In the last academic year, 42,000 students from outside the European Economic Area were granted the visas to stay on after obtaining a degree. |
| They were granted under the Post-Study Work Route, part of Tier 1 of the points-based system, aimed at "highly skilled" migrants. | They were granted under the Post-Study Work Route, part of Tier 1 of the points-based system, aimed at "highly skilled" migrants. |
| We should have a good look at these institutions to see if it is legitimate for all the students studying there on all the courses to get post-study work visas Prof David Metcalf | We should have a good look at these institutions to see if it is legitimate for all the students studying there on all the courses to get post-study work visas Prof David Metcalf |
| MAC head David Metcalf said he was "amazed" and "staggered" that 599 of the institutions which issued degrees were not "proper" universities. | MAC head David Metcalf said he was "amazed" and "staggered" that 599 of the institutions which issued degrees were not "proper" universities. |
| "They are basically further education colleges which get their degrees validated by one of the universities," he said. | "They are basically further education colleges which get their degrees validated by one of the universities," he said. |
| "What we think is, without being overly elitist, is that we should have a good look at these institutions to see if it is legitimate for all the students studying there on all the courses to get post-study work visas." | "What we think is, without being overly elitist, is that we should have a good look at these institutions to see if it is legitimate for all the students studying there on all the courses to get post-study work visas." |
| A survey for the UK Border Agency of 1,564 graduates given the visas found about half worked in professional occupations, and "significant" numbers were in less skilled employment. | A survey for the UK Border Agency of 1,564 graduates given the visas found about half worked in professional occupations, and "significant" numbers were in less skilled employment. |
| But Prof Metcalf said there was no evidence the foreign students were taking jobs from British students' jobs. | But Prof Metcalf said there was no evidence the foreign students were taking jobs from British students' jobs. |
| MAC's report suggested foreign students could be forced to find a job within several months of finishing their course before they are given a full two-year visa. | MAC's report suggested foreign students could be forced to find a job within several months of finishing their course before they are given a full two-year visa. |
| However, it noted that changing the system could impact on colleges which rely on foreign student fees and create an "Ivy League" of institutions that would come with visa entitlements. | However, it noted that changing the system could impact on colleges which rely on foreign student fees and create an "Ivy League" of institutions that would come with visa entitlements. |
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