The University of Stirling has come under fire for an alleged lack of response to specific points made within a letter of support for a migrant student studying a postgraduate course.
Muhammad Rauf Waris was previously detained for allegedly violating the terms of his student visa by working more than the permitted 20 hours. Reportedly suffering ‘mental torture’ while being held at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre near Strathaven in South Lanarkshire.
Migrant students on student visas are allowed to engage in part-time employment up to 20 hours per week during term time. The University of Stirling website states: “If you are aged 18 or over and have a Student visa to complete a degree course at the University of Stirling, you are allowed to work. You are permitted to work for up to 20 hours each week during University semester time full time during agreed University vacations. Please note that students with visas enrolled on our Masters Programmes cannot work full time whilst working on their dissertation as the summer months between June and the start of the Autumn semester are not considered as a holiday period.”
The letter sent to senior management at the University of Stirling appealed for better support structures for Muhammad as well as all other international students.
Specific Points
In a press release provided to Brig Newspaper, Unis Resist Border Controls (URBC) claim that the University failed to respond before the deadline of Friday 24 November regarding the following points listed in the letter;
– Write a letter to the Home Office indicating their support for Muhammad’s case to remain in the UK and complete his studies;
– Grant Muhammad a Student Assistance Fund so that he can continue his studies without having to worry about food, transportation costs, and other costs;
– Given the number of difficulties that Muhammad has been subjected to, and to prevent further precarity for both him and his family, for the University of Stirling to grant tuition amnesty for the remaining tuition fees for his course;
– End pernicious attendance monitoring on both migrant university staff and students, particularly the use of apps that weaponise welfare and pastoral care in order to monitor the attendance of migrant students. We need better in-personal pastoral and welfare support that is not through apps that are in turn used to monitor migrant students;
– Establish pastoral and welfare care for migrant students that takes into account the precarities generated by the draconian immigration regime, especially the hostile environment policy.
Hostile Environment Policy and effect on migrant students
According to URBC, the hostile environment is a policy established in 2012 under the coalition government when Theresa May was Home Secretary. URBC maintains that the intention of this policy was to bring down the net migration statistics by creating barriers for all kinds of migrants in accessing the NHS, housing, education (schools and universities), employment, getting a driver’s licence, banking and getting married.
As a result of this policy, UK universities, as the immigration sponsor for migrant students and staff, must carry out attendance monitoring checks to satisfy Home Office requirements. URBC claim that many universities go above and beyond what is dictated by the Home Office to show that they are in compliance with immigration policy, allegedly over-reporting migrant students and staff for supposed immigration infractions.
Denied Allegations
Muhammad has vehemently denied committing any infractions to his immigration status and has always maintained he worked within the permitted 20 hours for migrant students.
According to Unis Resist Border Controls, the Home Office have not confirmed the basis of their allegations against Muhammad nor how they received evidence regarding his alleged overworking.
The taught postgraduate international student was released from Dungavel on 22 August 2023 but is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, including anxiety, depression and sleeping problems. He is also no longer permitted to work part time to support himself as his case is still under review by the Home Office.
University’s duty of care
At the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, Muhammad was back on his postgraduate course at the University of Stirling. However, his legal team have reported that the University of Stirling have failed to answer emails concerning his case.
Grant Buttars, Vice President for UCU Scotland maintains, “While it is welcome that Muhammad has been readmitted to his course, the University’s duty of care means that it is incumbent on them to give him the necessary support to allow him to complete his studies. UCU members in Scotland and beyond have been active and vocal in our support for Muhammad and will continue to do so until this is resolved.”
Throughout this time, URBC have assisted Muhammad by establishing the #WeAreAllMuhammad campaign, in addition to helping with his living costs through an online fundraiser, and supporting his mental health needs.
A representative from URBC said: “#WeAreAllMuhammad campaign illustrates disturbingly that if the University of Stirling can treat a vulnerable international student in such a disposable manner, this mistreatment will also trickle down to home students within the system. This is why URBC is campaigning for Muhammad and demanding that better pastoral support be given to him and all other international students at the University of Stirling.”
Deliberately failing to provide adequate support
There is growing concern within the #WeAreAllMuhammad campaign that the University of Stirling is deliberately failing to provide adequate support for Muhammad in completing his course in order to make it easier for the university to withdraw him if Muhammad is unable to complete his coursework.
URBC comments, “The University of Stirling are well aware that Muhammad’s case to remain in the UK is predicated on him being a postgraduate student at their institution. Without proper pastoral care and support, the university is making it easier for him to fail in his studies. A withdrawal from the University of Stirling would mean that Muhammad’s student visa would be revoked and he’d return back to Pakistan, thousands of pounds in debt and no qualification.”
The #WeAreAllMuhammad campaign and the 341 scholars, students and members of the public are planning to continue to press the University of Stirling for an answer to their demands. In the meantime, the campaign urges people to help support Muhammad’s living costs by donating to his GoFundMe.
When approached for a comment, a University spokesperson said
“We do not recognise the account given. We have been, and continue to be, in regular contact with Muhammad to offer support. To enable us to provide further support, we would encourage Muhammad to engage fully with our student support team.”
Featured Image Credit: University of Stirling/Muhammad Rauf Waris