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| Questions call over uni franchises after 'visa fraud' | Questions call over uni franchises after 'visa fraud' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Questions over university franchise arrangements need to be answered following alleged visa fraud at Glyndwr University, an AM claims. | Questions over university franchise arrangements need to be answered following alleged visa fraud at Glyndwr University, an AM claims. |
| Aled Roberts said Glyndwr's managerial control over the London campus involved should be looked at. | Aled Roberts said Glyndwr's managerial control over the London campus involved should be looked at. |
| Glyndwr lost its right to sponsor foreign students after it emerged some may have obtained fraudulent English language certificates. | Glyndwr lost its right to sponsor foreign students after it emerged some may have obtained fraudulent English language certificates. |
| The university said it was "deeply upset" by the decision. | The university said it was "deeply upset" by the decision. |
| Immigration Minister James Brokenshire told the House of Commons on Tuesday an inquiry had found nearly 50,000 immigrants across the UK may have obtained English language certificates required for a student visas, despite not being able to speak it. | Immigration Minister James Brokenshire told the House of Commons on Tuesday an inquiry had found nearly 50,000 immigrants across the UK may have obtained English language certificates required for a student visas, despite not being able to speak it. |
| The probe followed a BBC Panorama investigation. | The probe followed a BBC Panorama investigation. |
| The Home Office said concerns centred primarily "but not exclusively" on Glyndwr's London campus, where 2,050 overseas students study. | The Home Office said concerns centred primarily "but not exclusively" on Glyndwr's London campus, where 2,050 overseas students study. |
| A criminal investigation has been launched. | A criminal investigation has been launched. |
| Student feedback | Student feedback |
| On Wednesday, Mr Roberts, who is the Welsh Liberal Democrats spokesman on education, told BBC Radio Wales questions should be asked about the university's relationship with the franchise college in London and the feedback it had on student progress. | On Wednesday, Mr Roberts, who is the Welsh Liberal Democrats spokesman on education, told BBC Radio Wales questions should be asked about the university's relationship with the franchise college in London and the feedback it had on student progress. |
| He said: "There's is an element of them [Glyndwr] being a victim, but I think we do need to understand what exactly they had as far as managerial control was concerned over the college, and more importantly of course, the feedback they had. | He said: "There's is an element of them [Glyndwr] being a victim, but I think we do need to understand what exactly they had as far as managerial control was concerned over the college, and more importantly of course, the feedback they had. |
| "It might have been the case that the company was accrediting these students, but it would have been apparent once they were attending the course that their English wasn't up to standard." | "It might have been the case that the company was accrediting these students, but it would have been apparent once they were attending the course that their English wasn't up to standard." |
| "It does raise questions with regard to the whole franchise arrangements," he added. | "It does raise questions with regard to the whole franchise arrangements," he added. |
| "You'll recall the University of Wales had similar difficulties with regard to overseas franchise arrangements and I think the higher education sector has to take a very long and hard look at the way it's been conducting itself in this area." | "You'll recall the University of Wales had similar difficulties with regard to overseas franchise arrangements and I think the higher education sector has to take a very long and hard look at the way it's been conducting itself in this area." |
| Resignation call | |
| Mr Roberts called for a meeting with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and the Welsh government to discuss the implications of the university's suspension on recruiting overseas students, and its future financial sustainability. | |
| Glyndwr University said it hoped to get the licence re-instated. | Glyndwr University said it hoped to get the licence re-instated. |
| It added it was committed to supporting the continuing education of genuine international students who demonstrate full compliance with their immigration requirements. | It added it was committed to supporting the continuing education of genuine international students who demonstrate full compliance with their immigration requirements. |
| A spokesperson for HEFCW said it was talking to the university to assess the implications of the situation before considering if further action was required. | |
| Margaret Phelan, of the Universities and Colleges Union, whose Glyndwr members recently voted for strike action in a dispute over job losses, said the allegations added more weight to members' calls for the university leadership to resign. | |
| "It is clear that there are serious problems with how Glyndwr is being run and those in charge need to be held accountable," she said. |