Accredited Private Colleges And Overseas Students

EDM number 736 in 2009-10, proposed by George Galloway on 27/01/2010.
Categorised under the topics of Immigration and Students.

That this House notes that the Government has introduced a system of accreditation for private colleges catering primarily for overseas students; further notes that as a result of this system many colleges have been closed and some colleges that have received accreditation have subsequently had that accreditation suspended and face the possibility of closure; further notes that the system of accreditation has been understandably taken by overseas students and that the colleges they are applying to study at are bona fide legitimate institutions; further notes that students who have enrolled at colleges which subsequently lose accreditation are then denied the courses they have paid for and face losing their visa rights obliging them to return home with their courses uncompleted and without refund of the fees, fares and living expenses they have incurred; believes that the Government needs to take action to assist these students by offering flexibility over visas obtained in these circumstances, helping students to retrieve fees and find courses at alternative bona fide legitimate colleges; and further believes that if the Government does not provide this aid, Britain's appeal as a place for overseas students to come to study providing some $5 billion of revenue per annum will be jeopardised.

This motion has been signed by a total of 15 MPs.