Students come to Scotland from all over the world to gain qualifications that will lead to jobs or open the door to further study.

Students come to Scotland from all over the world to gain qualifications that will lead to jobs or open the door to further study. Many choose this country because they are also interested in the culture and have been stirred by its history, literature or landscape. Last year The Herald exposed a number of unlicensed colleges which were making false claims about their courses, facilities and academic standing. As a result, three "colleges" were removed from the government list of accredited institutions and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills announced that from 2009, all private institutions recruiting students from overseas will be required to register with it and prove that they are genuine.

This was a welcome move, but we expressed concern at the time that some bogus institutions were continuing to operate. Today we reveal that one of those removed from the register has been sold and the new owners have reopened it under a different name. As with other similar operations, they make false claims of association with universities and degree-awarding bodies. In this instance both Glasgow University and the Institute of Administrative Management have taken action to ensure that "West George College" has removed all references to them, but it is impossible for genuine institutions to police such fraudulent claims until their attention is drawn to them. Some other colleges have been suspected of not only duping genuine students, but being used to cheat immigration laws by bringing people into the country on student visas. This needs reform, but is a matter for Westminster.

We welcome foreign students to our schools, colleges and universities for the wider international outlook they bring, but also because education is an important strand in the country's economy. The universities in particular, which do not have access to the top-up fees charged in England, are increasingly dependent on overseas students' fees for part of their income. Bogus colleges not only cheat students who believe they will gain a qualification, but their existence risks the possibility of Scottish colleges and the universities having their reputations besmirched by association.

The Association of Scotland's Colleges is calling for the word "college" to be given the same protection as "university" to prevent such brass-plate enterprises. That is long overdue and ought to be tackled by the Scottish Government before any more "colleges" set up shop.