UK: Academics petition over 'spying'

Academics and students have presented a 4,500-signature petition to Downing Street, urging the government to withdraw new immigration rules for overseas students in the UK, reports the BBC. From next March, universities will need a licence to offer places to students from outside the European Union, and will have to act as their sponsors. Lecturers will be expected to monitor whether foreign students are attending tutorials and report if they fail to attend.

Many academics have complained they are being asked to 'spy' on students in a quasi immigration officer role. But the government says it must clamp down on foreign nationals using student visas as a bogus route in to the UK.

The petition was organised by Ian Grigg-Spall, academic chair of the National Critical Lawyers Group and honorary fellow at Kent Law School. He said there had to be trust between teacher and student.
Full report on the BBC site