Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is reviewing its policies after 10 students from Pakistan went missing after failing to show up for their classes, The Irish Times has learned. John Downes reports.
The students, part of a group of about 38 who entered courses at the college in October 2003, arrived at WIT after being cleared for student visas by the Department of Justice. They paid fees of approximately €7,000 up front to study courses in business, information technology and electronics.
While some pursued their courses, others moved to different colleges but subsequently returned.
However, Dr Venie Martin, head of development at WIT, has confirmed it does not know where 10 students are. Gardaí in Waterford are investigating and say they have tracked down some of them, but they could not confirm last night how many remain unaccounted for.
The news that individuals are exploiting a loophole in the system to enter the State and then disappear comes at a time when security concerns have been raised following the recent London bombings. It is also thought likely that the situation in WIT may be occurring in other public and private colleges and universities.
One Garda source confirmed that it was a common practice for foreign students to enrol on courses here as a means of working illegally. Gardaí have six people working full-time on the issue, processing about 50 such cases a week.
Last night a spokesman for the Department of Justice said it was well aware of the "blatant abuse" by certain individuals of the student visa system.
Colleges which offered placements to overseas students had a role to play in monitoring their progress, he added. In these particular circumstances, however, the applications appeared to be credible. "Unfortunately, the conduct of individuals who have been granted visas cannot be pre-empted," the spokesman said.
"The Minister [for Justice] would not wish to make any direct link between applications by persons from Pakistan for visas and the atrocities in London. It is the case however, that applications for visas are kept under review in light of the prevailing circumstances."
Dr Martin stressed that many students from Pakistan had made a significant contribution to college life, but she acknowledged there was a need for Ireland to focus more attention and resources on the immigration process.
"We are an educational organisation.We recruit students according to the proper criteria and documentation," she said. "We went through all the proper procedures. We don't have the resources to pursue every student who drops out."
WIT did not take in any new students from Pakistan in 2004, Dr Martin added. It has reviewed its policies regarding such students, with a view to forging closer links with universities and colleges in Pakistan rather than operating through agents.