Lecturers at the University and College Union (UCU) conference starting in Bournemouth will debate whether or not to boycott the government’s new requirement to report on the attendance of international students.
The requirement is part of the new points-based immigration system, which the government introduced earlier this year for non-EU staff and students in April as part of its drive to combat terrorism.
Students will have to carry biometric identity cards, while universities must monitor and report any unexplained absences to the Home Office.
The motion, which has already been tabled, calls for the “discriminatory” rules to be scrapped and argues that the requirement makes them “Home Office snoopers” which could damage the reputation of the UK to international students who contribute £8.5bn pounds to the UK economy annually.
Sally Hunt, the UCU General Secretary, said: “One of the more pernicious effects of this new system will be to turn our members into an extra arm of the police force, placing monitoring and reporting responsibilities on to academic and support staff.
“It is vital that we build the campaign against the new points-based system, working with external organizations, sister unions and students.”
Dominic Scott, Chief Executive of the UK Council for International Student Affairs, said: “Staff reporting on whether students attend lectures is less controversial and already mandatory in further education colleges, but any thought of staff reporting suspicions of breaching immigration laws is anathema. It undermines the trust and contact that is an essential part of academic life.”
If the motion is passed, UCU officials would be asked to campaign to repeal the regulations for international students and staff.
Lecturers have been warned not to boycott the requirement as the law imposes a legal obligation on universities.
Ms Hunt said: “The Union’s protection of members cannot extend to endorsing a breach of the law relating to the points-based system, or defending members who do so.”
