Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood AM has criticised the Minister for Education and Skills, Huw Lewis AM, for failing to urgently address the Glyndŵr University ‘visa fraud’ situation.
Glyndŵr lost its right to sponsor foreign students after it emerged some may have obtained fraudulent English language certificates.
In an urgent question in the Assembly Chamber last week, Mr Isherwood stressed that the Wrexham campus is “absolutely dependent on the income it derives from its overseas students” and asked the Education Minister how urgently he will be making direct representation to the UK Government regarding the matter.
He said: “Glyndŵr University, I am sure that you will celebrate the fact, has the highest proportion of young undergraduate entrants from state schools, the highest proportion from lower socioeconomic classes, and the highest proportion in Wales of students claiming disabled student allowance. However, because it has opted for low fee levels – £6,500 as against £9,000 -it is absolutely dependent on the income that it derives from its overseas students.
“Given that the concern raised only applies to only some 3% of the total student numbers and less than 8% of its overseas student numbers, and given that it appears that the biggest problem might lie in its London campus, due to problems –I know that you cannot comment on possible criminal proceedings – with the intermediary company, how urgently will you, personally, be making direct representations to the UK Government on the basis of the facts that you are able to establish with the institution itself?”
The Minister told Mr Isherwood it was likely to be after his July 1st meeting with the Chair and Chief Executive of the Funding Council.
He said: “Well, as soon as is humanly possible, although, of course, I think that it would be wise to consider the outcome of that meeting with the chair and chief executive of the funding council, which I will be undertaking on 1 July.”
Mr Isherwood added: “I regret that the Minister did not consider that such a critical matter deserved his urgent and immediate personal intervention.”
