International student sign-in may no longer be required

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International students may no longer be asked to sign-in every week. [Giancarlo De Vita]

International students may no longer have to sign-in every week following the UK Border Agency (UKBA) announcing that it is no longer a necessity.

In a letter to higher education institutions, which has been seen by the National Union of Students, UKBA said that universities are no longer required to create a separate attendance monitoring system for international students.

Furthermore, the UKBA “no longer requires [institutions] to report…when a student has missed ten expected contacts.”

UAL’s Students’ Union (SUarts) is leading the investigation into whether the university will abandon the weekly sign-in.

SUarts culture and diversity officer Fairooz Aniqa said: “We do not think it is fair to ask international students to sign in every week and we believe international students should be welcomed into the UK, not treated like visa cheats.”

Investigation

The union will meet UAL registrar Steve Marshall to investigate whether the university will abandon their attendance monitoring system.

Aniqa added: “The SU will obviously be pushing for UAL to stop asking international students to sign in weekly.”

Hala Zubari, 21, an international BA Fashion Contour student at London College of Fashion spoke to Arts London News about the weekly-sign in regulations: “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that international students have to sign in every week to prove that they are attending university.

“It’s racial discrimination, as well as an inconvenience,” she said.

The National Union of Students (NUS) do not support the attendance monitoring at universities.

NUS international students officer, Daniel Stevens said: “Hopefully this will end intrusive attendance monitoring procedures at universities.

“International students are independent adults and should be treated as such, not potential criminals.”

Tags: Government, International students, NUS, SUARTS, ual, UK Border Agency, UKBA, Vanessa Smart

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