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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/24/doing-all-can-syrian-students
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| We are doing all we can for Syrian students | We are doing all we can for Syrian students |
| (7 days later) | |
| We are concerned at the media reports alleging Syrian students are being expelled by their UK universities to face imminent deportation and death, because they can no longer pay their fees (Syrian students in UK 'facing deportation' as funds dry up, 21 January). It's true that many of the approximately 650 Syrian students and academics studying in the UK are facing great difficulty because their funding from Syrian sources has been cut off, in addition to the daily anguish with regard to the safety of their families and friends. | We are concerned at the media reports alleging Syrian students are being expelled by their UK universities to face imminent deportation and death, because they can no longer pay their fees (Syrian students in UK 'facing deportation' as funds dry up, 21 January). It's true that many of the approximately 650 Syrian students and academics studying in the UK are facing great difficulty because their funding from Syrian sources has been cut off, in addition to the daily anguish with regard to the safety of their families and friends. |
| But we are doing all we can to help in this very difficult situation, including, where necessary, the deferral of fees to allow those affected to continue their study and provision of support through hardship funds. The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics, which has been providing help to academics in danger for 80 years, has also launched an appeal to raise funds to assist. Although we welcome the decision of the UK Borders Agency to introduce visa concessions for Syrians affected by this crisis, the deadline of 15 March provides little security when the crisis is far from over. We urge the government and the UKBA urgently to extend these concessions for a further six months, through to the end of the academic year. This will allow us to plan our support more effectively. | But we are doing all we can to help in this very difficult situation, including, where necessary, the deferral of fees to allow those affected to continue their study and provision of support through hardship funds. The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics, which has been providing help to academics in danger for 80 years, has also launched an appeal to raise funds to assist. Although we welcome the decision of the UK Borders Agency to introduce visa concessions for Syrians affected by this crisis, the deadline of 15 March provides little security when the crisis is far from over. We urge the government and the UKBA urgently to extend these concessions for a further six months, through to the end of the academic year. This will allow us to plan our support more effectively. |
| Our basic position is clear. For decades, the UK has benefited enormously from the inflow of students and academics from abroad. When things go wrong, we have a duty to help and we will continue to do so. Anne Lonsdale Chair, Cara, Professor Nick Lieven University of Bristol, Professor Colin Riordan Cardiff University, Dr Graham Baldwin University of Central Lancashire, Professor Mary Bownes University of Edinburgh, Professor Alison Phipps University of Glasgow, Ann Marie Dalton Heriot Watt University, Professor Phil Cardew London South Bank University, Dennis Dunn Manchester Metropolitan University, Professor Anne Pauwels School of African and Oriental Studies, Professor Richard Aldrich University of Warwick | Our basic position is clear. For decades, the UK has benefited enormously from the inflow of students and academics from abroad. When things go wrong, we have a duty to help and we will continue to do so. Anne Lonsdale Chair, Cara, Professor Nick Lieven University of Bristol, Professor Colin Riordan Cardiff University, Dr Graham Baldwin University of Central Lancashire, Professor Mary Bownes University of Edinburgh, Professor Alison Phipps University of Glasgow, Ann Marie Dalton Heriot Watt University, Professor Phil Cardew London South Bank University, Dennis Dunn Manchester Metropolitan University, Professor Anne Pauwels School of African and Oriental Studies, Professor Richard Aldrich University of Warwick |
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