News / National
Zimbabwean professor suspended over UK immigration visa 'scam'
09 Mar 2012 at 22:47hrs | Views
Professor Godfrey Mazhindu, dean of Liverpool John Moores University's faculty of health and applied social sciences has been suspended amid concerns that foreign degree students were put in for exams early so they could qualify for work visas.
Prof Mazhindu and a number of other faculty staff have been temporarily relieved of their duties after the "serious breach" of protocol was uncovered.
It is understood an investigation â€" which the university has flagged up to immigration officials â€" centres around more than 20 Indian nursing students sitting a maths exam before they were ready and outside the tight university guidelines.
It is believed the students were put forward for the exam without prior permission ahead of a deadline for tougher visa rules surrounding international students gaining employment in the UK which comes into force in April.
Changes coming include scrapping a visa scheme which allows students from outside the EU to stay in the UK for up to two years to take employment after their degree â€" so long as they meet basic criteria including having proof they have passed their qualifications.
As part of a government crackdown against those abusing study to gain UK residency, applications for this scheme will not be processed after April 6.
Instead it will be replaced with a tougher scheme requiring overseas students to find a sponsor in the UK, obtain a graduate level job and earn a minimum of £20,000
Prof Mazhindu and a number of other faculty staff have been temporarily relieved of their duties after the "serious breach" of protocol was uncovered.
It is understood an investigation â€" which the university has flagged up to immigration officials â€" centres around more than 20 Indian nursing students sitting a maths exam before they were ready and outside the tight university guidelines.
It is believed the students were put forward for the exam without prior permission ahead of a deadline for tougher visa rules surrounding international students gaining employment in the UK which comes into force in April.
As part of a government crackdown against those abusing study to gain UK residency, applications for this scheme will not be processed after April 6.
Instead it will be replaced with a tougher scheme requiring overseas students to find a sponsor in the UK, obtain a graduate level job and earn a minimum of £20,000
Source - liverpool Echo
