External Affairs Forum 10 November 2011 Teviot Row House, Balcony Room

Present:- Stuart Tooley, Max Crema, Peter Thibualt, Matt McPherson, Sophie McCallum,

Emma Meehan, Phillipa Faulkner, Aurora Adams, ?, ?

In Attendance:- Sheona Lawson, Andrew Clark Apologies:Meeting Opens: 5:30pm 1. LONDON DEMONSTRATION Members of EUSA took part in the march against RUK fees in London on the 9th November. Max Crema reported that the march was successful and peaceful with favourable media attention. There was however a high police presence but in the end there were no arrests. 2. RUKIDDING CAMPAIGN As background the government has introduced new policy that has removed the cap on rest of UK (RUK) tuition fees allowing universities to set their own fees for RUK students. The University of Edinburgh have set their fees for RUK students at 9,000. EUSA believes that this is unreasonable and unnecessary. MM indicated that EUSA will be able to make a difference by entering a dialogue with the Scottish Government despite the UK Government being the root cause. Initial letters have been sent to Marco Biagi MSP for Edinburgh Central (approx. 30) condemning the government decision to increase RUK fees and asking them to consider a realistic but also reasonable and fair solution to higher education funding whilst also advocating free tuition. ST encouraged all to take part and join the facebook page. The letters are available online at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/rukidding. The forum discussed its previous decision (13/10/11) to have a march in Edinburgh on the 16th November going from Bristo Square to the Scotland Office in Melville Crescent. It was decided for reasons of time and preparation to move the march to the 23rd November which would also coincide with the NCAFC (National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts) day of action. The forum were not wholly satisfied with the route and after discussion, supporting marching to the Scottish Parliament, a compromise was reached whereby they would march from the Scottish Parliament to the Scotland Office. ST, EM and SL are scheduled to attend a meeting on Friday 11th November with Edinburgh City Council and Lothian & Borders Police to discuss the proposed march and hopefully obtain permission.
[Post-meeting note: request approved]

Action

The message of the march will be that EUSA is protesting against fees in general but especially the recent increase in RUK fees which at Edinburgh are set at 9,000. ST stated that publicity should begin as soon as possible to get students involved by informing them of the march and inviting them to contribute to the letter. EUSA also campaigns for increased bursaries in light of high fees and an equivalent of Englands Office for Fair Access. The primary legislation scheduled for the spring should contain provisions that will set a minimum bar for bursaries and regulate how universities
Page 1 of 5

RUKidding Campaign

spend self-generated income. EUSA sympathises with colleges and the considerable cuts they are facing and will be supporting and working with them to oppose this. 3. MOTION UNITY WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT POPULATION PT introduced a motion criticising the way that the University is currently tracking international students. PT believes that the University is undertaking unnecessary checks. PT would like this motion to go to Student Council sponsored by External Forum. The motion was passed. MM enquired as to what contact has been made to the university. PT confirmed that Johanna Holtan (EUSA Internationalisation Co-ordinator) was in correspondence with Craig Shearer (Registry Head of Student Administration). MM stated that cooperation with the university will be vital in this campaign. The full motion is attached at Appendix A 4. ALTERNATIVE PROSPECTUS EUSA is collaborating with the Movie Production Society to produce a series videos that will act as an alternative prospectus for prospective students, helping them with the application process and giving them an insight into what studying at Edinburgh is like. 5. STUDENT CHARTER Meetings about the Student Charter are ongoing, and PF is meeting on Tuesday (15/11/11) to finalise timelines. The Student Charter will recommend good landlords and set minimum standards, an accommodation finder will also be included. PT

ST

PF

6. SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO CONSULTATION EM explained that the Scottish Labour Party is seeking manifesto suggestions from the public via a consultation on their manifesto for the Local Council elections next year. ST encouraged people to submit suggestions as a way of lobbying the party to change their manifesto. ST People discussed a student manifesto for the Council elections. It was agreed that students will be surveyed and their opinions collated to produce an overall EUSA response. Meeting Closes: 6:40pm

Page 2 of 5

Appendix A
Unity with the International Student Population SRC Notes: 1. From the start of Academic Session 2011/12 the University is introducing census points within the session in order to confirm the attendance of students holding a Tier 4 Student Visa. This is to ensure the University meets the UKBA statutory requirements as a sponsor of Tier 4 students and its responsibilities in accordance with its Highly Trusted Sponsor status. 2. Students must ensure that they are fully matriculated for the session as this is taken as the first point to confirm their attendance at the University. Having attendance confirmed by the relevant School/College is part of the University's usual matriculation process. In addition, International Undergraduates MUST report in person to one of the designated venues during week 6 of Semester 1 (24-28 October 2011) and week 5 of Semester 2 (20-24 February 2012) to have their attendance confirmed again. International Postgraduates MUST report in person to one of the designated venues during week 6 of Semester 1 (24-28 October 2011) and week 5 of Semester 2 (20-24 February 2012) and during the summer (23-27 July 2012) to have their attendance confirmed again. International Students not attending at the above times will be deemed to be "not in attendance". Those students identified as "not in attendance" will be formally withdrawn from their studies. The University will report to the UKBA that the student has discontinued their studies and that the University ceases to sponsor the student's Tier 4 visa. As such the Tier 4 visa is invalidated and the student will be told that they are no longer entitled to remain in the UK and if they have more than 6 months left on their visa they must leave the UK within 60 days All students with an INEEA (International Non European Economic Area) nationality recorded on their student record (MyED) will be emailed (UoE email and personal email, if recorded) and written to at their semester address by Registry in advance of the first census. Only those with a Tier 4 visa are required to attend a census point. (Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/changes/#)

3.

4.

5. 6.

7.

8. According to the UK Border Agency Securing our Border Controlling Migration Guide to Sponsoring
Students Under Tier 4 of the Points-Based System (henceforth referred to as The Guide) (Section 464) it is not* compulsory for students under pre 22 February 2010 [Visa letter] system to abide by the reporting duties. 9. The University of Edinburgh is considered a Highly Trusted Sponsor for Tier 4 Visas as specified under in the Guide (Section 32) as any institution who has a sponsor license for more than 12 months must successfully apply for Highly Trusted Sponsor status.

10. Section 466 of the Guide reads: If you are a highly trusted sponsor you can* make two checkpoints (reregistrations) during any rolling 12 month period and report any students who have missed 10 consecutive expected contacts without you reasonably giving them permission. You must report these students within 10 working days you completing your checkpoint process.

11. Section 468 of the Guide articulates what these 10 expected contact points may be: Examples of expected
Page 3 of 5

interactions include, but are not limited to: attending any lesson, lecture, tutorial or seminar (as relevant to the level of study); attending any test, examination or assessment board; submitting assessed or unassessed coursework; submitting an interim dissertation, coursework or report; attending any meeting with a supervisor or personal tutor; attending any research-method or research-panel meetings, writingup seminars or doctoral workshops; attending an oral examination (viva); registration (matriculation or enrolment); attending an appointment with a welfare advisor or international student adviser. (Source:www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pbsguidance/guidancefrom3 1mar09/sponsor-guidance-t4-050911.pdf?view=Binary) *Emphasis added SRC Believes: 1. That the recent changes in the governments policy regarding student visas from students outside of the European Union represent a shift towards even more xenophobic visa regulations. 2. International students make up a large portion of not only the student body but also this council and that such diversity is beneficial to the overall student experience. Students should not be made to feel like they are being vetted or closely monitored by any government when they have already had to prove the authenticity of their enrolment in courses. Edinburgh University is publishing incorrect information in telling students who are on the visa letter system that they must attend the scheduled censuses. We are living in a post-modern globalized era where the mixing of cultures and people is something that should be encouraged and pursued. Edinburgh University is choosing to exercise an optional policy which is detrimental to the social standing of International students.

3.

4.

5.

6.

SRC Resolves: 1. To reaffirm to students EUSAs opposition to the recent changes in the Tier 4 Visa Scheme due to their xenophobic nature. 2. 3. Issue a statement articulating EUSAs opposition to the recent changes. Actively pressure the University to state why it is choosing to be one of the few universities to implement optional governmental policies which negatively affect students. Lobby the University to remove the implementation of the UK Border Agency Securing Our Border Controlling Migration Guide to Sponsoring Students Under Tier 4 of the Points-Based System Section 466. If the University refuses to reverse its current policy, push the University to articulate that it is choosing to implement an optional governmental policy in the letter describing the census process. A reminder letter should also be sent out the weekend prior to the census dates. Mandate the President to write to the Home Office Minister, and local MPs expressing our stance on this issue. Mandate all appropriate officers to represent these views in any dealings with the University and UK government. Mandate the President to investigate how this motion might be brought to the NUS Conference and to Page 4 of 5

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

update Council when appropriate. Proposer: Seconder: Peter Thibault (s0818669) Aurora Adams (s1004725)

Page 5 of 5