Students do a Houdini on UK campuses

AHMEDABAD: Amar''s family here was happy when he made it to a reputed university in the UK for a master''s programme.
And, when he began sending them money too, their joy knew no bounds. But, when Amar returned with his degree, nobody had heard of the institution he got it from. He had opted for a lesser known university so that he could earn, as learning took a back seat.
For more and more students from Gujarat crossing the shores for higher education, the lure of lucre seems to be fast edging out the love for knowledge.They are now being seen less on campuses and more in shops and units doing odd jobs.
This "disappearing act" by students has raised the hackles of the UK government, which has planned crackdown on what it feels is a blatant misuse of the student visa".
Visa consultants authorised to represent students have complained to the UK education and visa authorities, saying almost 50 per cent of such students are from Gujarat.
"First, they get themselves admitted to top-notch universities affiliated to the British Accreditation Council (BAC), which makes it easier for them to procure a student visa.
But, once in the UK, they do not enroll in that university. They then join some second-rung institution, popularly known as ''two-room universities'', to keep their visa status valid while they get the liberty to work as these colleges seldom bother about matters of discipline, like proper attendance," says Raghuvir Khushwaha, an education counsellor.
Last year, a group of 60 officials from UK universities, who were on a visit here, expressed concern at this trend.
"Earlier, discerning visa officers would read a student''s intention from the university selected. But, this is becoming more and more impossible now," he adds.
"Such incidents are unfortunate. To control this activity, we have asked universities and education counsellors to inform relevant authorities about such cases so that action can be taken," says John Nance, first secretary, education, at the British Council.
Authorities plan to scrutinise students from this September intake itself. A communication from the British Council to education consultants has asked for "information on students who disappear after getting a visa".
It also asks agents to "inform visa section, who will ensure that any future application from that student or his/her family will be scrutinised closely".
"Studying in a second-grade college also helps save money. Compared to the whopping 6,000 to 7,000 pounds per annum that a BAC-accreditated university charges, a student has to pay between 1,200 and 2,000 pounds in a private college. And, with these colleges not keeping a close watch on students'' activities, they can earn about 1,000 to 1,200 pounds a month by taking up odd jobs," says Khushwaha.
Rahul Gandhi of Take Off Education Consultants feels that the number of students going abroad from Gujarat may have gone up, but their profiles have changed drastically.
Last September, a number of reputed UK universities like Hertfordshire, Middlesex and South Bank warned education consultants in Ahmedabad that their rights to represent students would be taken away after many students failed to show up, he informed.
"Even charging half of the first semester fees before releasing admission letters by universities has not helped curb such unethical practices," adds Gandhi.