Student leaders yesterday urged the Scottish Government to take action to clamp down on the activities of bogus colleges which are suspected of operating as a front for a visa scam.
Student leaders yesterday urged the Scottish Government to take action to clamp down on the activities of bogus colleges which are suspected of operating as a front for a visa scam.
The call came after an investigation by The Herald revealed a string of colleges in Glasgow advertising non-existent courses or using logos of recognised educational and industry bodies on their websites without permission.
Despite this, all the colleges were on an official government list operated by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) which allows visas to be issued to students who have secured a place at them. One college has now been struck off the register.
On Thursday, the Association of Scotland's Colleges (ASC) called for the Secretary of State for Scotland to press for a change in the 1985 Business Names Act to include protection of the term "college".
The act currently protects the names "university", "polytechnic", "institute" and "special school" and only those who have approval from the Secretary of State can use such terms.
The ASC argues that bogus institutions deliberately use the unprotected term "college" to trade off the good name of the further education sector in Scotland, but risk damaging that reputation in the process.
The Scottish Government has so far argued that the matter is not one for it because the Business Names Act is not part of its devolved powers.
However, colleges - and now student leaders - argue that because further education in Scotland is being damaged, the government here should take some responsibility.
Yesterday, NUS Scotland urged Fiona Hyslop, the Education Secretary, to do everything she could to protect legitimate colleges in Scotland.
James Alexander, president of NUS Scotland, said: "We are asking the cabinet secretary to take action on an issue which is of great concern to students in Scotland.
"This issue has already been identified as one of concern, but nothing has been done to restrict the use of the word college or tackle the growing problem of bogus colleges.
"Without such action it is not only the individual students who suffer, but the good name of colleges in Scotland and the reputation of our nation as one of the best providers of adult learning in the world."
Mr Alexander has now written to Ms Hyslop seeking a meeting to discuss the matter further.
Earlier this week, it emerged that a bogus college uncovered in an investigation by The Herald has now been struck off an official government register which allows it to bring overseas students to Scotland.
Commonwealth College in Glasgow had been registered with the DIUS for more than a year, but has now been removed from the list.
However, four other colleges in Glasgow - Great Regent, Middlesex, Glasgow College and the LSMT Business School are still on the register despite significant discrepancies in the courses being offered and claims made about affiliations with legitimate bodies.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Government recognises the importance of promoting the reputation of Scotland's colleges at home and abroad and takes very seriously any potential damage to this."
