US warns Indian students about "predatory visa fraud rings"

US warns Indian students about "predatory visa fraud rings"

Washington: As another US university came under the scanner, the United States asked Indian students to be alert to the existence of 'predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors'.

"We are looking into this matter, we're following the case closely, and we're in communication with the Government of India officials on it," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Friday, a day after a raid on the University of Northern Virginia.

Based in Annandale, a Washington suburb, the unaccredited, for-profit private university has some 2,400 students of which 90 percent are from India, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, registered at three locations in northern Virginia.

University of North Virginia, USA

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The US embassy in New Delhi has briefed the Ministry of External Affairs and the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have been in contact with the Indian Embassy in Washington, Toner said.

Declining to give details as an investigation is ongoing, the spokesman said "it's important to note that a hundred thousand Indians are receiving a good education at certified US institutions each year, and we certainly welcome the contribution of Indian students wishing to study in the United States."

"And of course, as always, we caution them to be alert to the existence of these so-called predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors," he said.

Asked how US consulates or embassies in India issued visas for study at such institutions, Toner again declined comment in view of "an ongoing investigation".

"They've taken action against this school, and we're in close coordination with the Indian Government as we move forward. But beyond that, I don't want to comment on details," he said.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has warned the Northern Virginia University that it could withdraw the school's authorisation to admit foreign students.

Agency Spokesperson Cori Bassett, however, would not say why the action was taken, saying it is part of a pending investigation. The school remains open and certified and will have the chance to rebut the government's allegations.

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IIM Kozhikode inducts 35 per cent women students in Post Graduate Programme|Education

IIM Kozhikode inducts 35 per cent women students in Post Graduate Programme|Education

Kochi: Continuing on its path of gender diversity for the second consecutive year, Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K) has taken in large number of women students, about 35 per cent, for its flagship Post Graduate Programme (PGP) for the 2011-13 batch.

Of the total 341 students for the PGP, 121 are women, IIM-K said in a press release here. This is against last year's intake of 30 per cent.

Out of the women admitted, 84 have Common Admission Test percentile between 90 and 100.

Institute Director Debashis Chatterjee says 'giving prominence to girl students has become a trend in IIM-Kozhikode.

Last year also IIM-K had the maximum number of women students among all IIMs. Girls have always performed better than boys. Even in summer placements, they have been placed in better companies, he said, adding. this was all on merit.

'The female students have brought greater diversity both in the learning environment as well as in their academic and social profiles. It is truly a transformation process at IIM-K whereby students whose parental income is less than a lakh per year end up with top jobs around the world', he said.

IIM-K has been the trendsetter for business schools in the country with its consistent gender diversity drive, which is now emulated by others, the release said.

IIMK had implemented the Government norms on reservations to the backward and the economically weaker sections, the release said.

Out of 121 women students, 91 have engineering background, while 15 are either commerce or economics graduate. Three women are doctors and one is a law graduate. A male student is from medical background.

Chatterjee says there has been a change in income profile of parents of students coming to the institute. Though this could be a trend among all IIMs, in Kozhikode 7.94 per cent students have parents whose income is less than Rs one lakh per annum, 25 per cent students have parents earning Rs 10 lakh and above. Rest of the students have parents earning Rs 4-5 lakh per annum (12.70 per cent) and Rs 5-6 lakh per annum (8.73 per cent).

In IIM-Kozhikode, a majority of students -- 63.97 per cent have parents working either in government, PSUs or NGOs. Only 9.72 per cent students are children of professionals or private sector executives, the release said. Children of businessmen comprise 13.77 per cent of total students in the Institute.

Maximum students (12.65 per cent) are from Delhi followed by 12.05per cent from Maharashtra. Students from Uttar Pradesh have fared very well and comprise 9.71 per cent of its total strength.

Source: PTI