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Another preventable death

Another asylum seeker dies in Glasgow – another preventable death? Mercy Baguma, a young Ugandan mother, was found dead in her flat in Glasgow in August. According to reports, her one-year-old son was found malnourished and crying next to her. Mercy’s death follows that of a young Syrian man, Adnan Olbeh, who died in May, reportedly after his mental health problems worsened after being moved to a hotel during the lockdown. It’s understood that Mercy was working in a restaurant until her leave to remain (her permission to stay and work in…

Another asylum seeker dies in Glasgow – another preventable death? Mercy Baguma, a young Ugandan mother, was found dead in her flat in Glasgow in August. According to reports, her one-year-old…

Issues faced by BAME women in the UK

This blog was first published on Engender. I came across some shocking news regarding the health and the high rate of death of pregnant black women recently, which I believe, together with the news of a higher rate of mental health issues among South Asian women in the UK is at least worthy of some thoughts by the population and certainly worth sharing worth sharing with readers of the On the Engender blog. BAME women's mental health There are concerning statistics and facts in connection with the mental…

This blog was first published on Engender. I came across some shocking news regarding the health and the high rate of death of pregnant black women recently, which I…

Asylum seekers with disabilities and Covid-19

As an asylum seeker with a disability, I am of the opinion that people like myself are very vulnerable and more exposed to Covid-19 when compared with other people and groups in the UK due to poverty and lack of resources. However, little is heard or reported about this vulnerable segment of British society during these challenging times. The voices of asylum seekers with disabilities are seldom heard, yet the risk we face is significant. Our lifestyles are often characterised by poverty as we have no recourse to public funds,…

As an asylum seeker with a disability, I am of the opinion that people like myself are very vulnerable and more exposed to Covid-19 when compared with other people and…

Campaign to keep Grandma in the UK

An elderly grandma will be ripped from her adopted family and friends and be deported back to India if she is not given ‘Leave to Remain’ in the UK. A community in Smethwick, West Midlands, has jumped to the aid of 75-year-old Mrs Gurmit Kaur, who is threatened with deportation by the Home Office. In 2013, the grandmother received letters from agencies representing the Home Office for her removal from the UK back to India where she says she has no family. Seven years on, she is still fearful of…

An elderly grandma will be ripped from her adopted family and friends and be deported back to India if she is not given ‘Leave to Remain’ in the UK. A…

Has Covid-19 altered media coverage of immigration?

The British press is notably hostile in its coverage of immigration. Between 2010 and 2016, the Daily Express ran a staggering 179 front pages devoted to anti-migrant stories, with the Daily Mail publishing 122 over the same period. Yet as the nation has come together during the fight against Covid-19, the immense contributions that migrants make to society have become impossible to deny. It is therefore important to examine whether media coverage has changed accordingly, or whether the negative rhetoric is still just as present. Coverage prior to the…

The British press is notably hostile in its coverage of immigration. Between 2010 and 2016, the Daily Express ran a staggering 179 front pages devoted to anti-migrant stories, with the…

Syed's story: "I came to the UK to study and lost my future"

Monitored constantly, branded a ‘liability’, feeling like a criminal. This has now become the reality of Syed’s experience in the UK higher education system. Yet it is a far cry from his experience when he arrived in the UK to study nine years ago. Drawn to the UK by the reputation of its education system, Syed started his course at the London College of Advanced Management with high hopes for the future. Things started well, with Syed enjoying the experience and benefiting from services aimed at helping international students settle.…

Monitored constantly, branded a ‘liability’, feeling like a criminal. This has now become the reality of Syed’s experience in the UK higher education system. Yet it is a far cry…

A year cut short due to Covid-19

London, home to some of the best museums in the world, seemed the obvious place to do museum studies, and being an American holding an Irish passport conferred an additional privilege. Even though Britain is no longer part of the European Union it has a special deal with Irish citizens who do not need a visa to study or work. That was one less factor to worry about and another cost for which I didn’t need an additional loan. Friends had described the process of getting a tier 4 visa…

London, home to some of the best museums in the world, seemed the obvious place to do museum studies, and being an American holding an Irish passport conferred an additional…

The dark side of policies for international students

Students aspiring to study abroad go through a careful decision-making process before choosing to move their whole life to a different country for a minimum of 3-4 years. They weigh many factors that help formulate this life-changing decision that is not only an investment towards the betterment of their future but also comes with a significant financial commitment. In 2007 when the Post Study Work Visa (PSW) was put in place, British representatives travelled to recruit students. They made a compelling pitch about the benefits of choosing to invest in…

Students aspiring to study abroad go through a careful decision-making process before choosing to move their whole life to a different country for a minimum of 3-4 years. They weigh…

My dreams were shattered due to Covid-19

Here I am, the sun lazily dipping beneath the treetops, absent-mindedly tracing the brim of my shimmering, sun-struck wineglass on my back porch. And as I’m sitting here with my right hand on my keyboard and a German Shepard excitedly panting to my left, I can’t help but think: What on earth is going on? And this isn’t just today. This is just like any other steamy summer evening in July breezing by on the other side of the Atlantic marking the 104th day of my social distancing journey. In…

Here I am, the sun lazily dipping beneath the treetops, absent-mindedly tracing the brim of my shimmering, sun-struck wineglass on my back porch. And as I’m sitting here with my…

What do international students mean to the University of Westminster?

There are a lot of conversations going on now, due to the pandemic and the resulting travel and visa restrictions, about the value international students bring not only to UK universities but also globally. There is no doubt that international students make a valuable contribution to our universities and also to the wider community that the University sits in. The value of international students has and always will be about much more than the financial contributions they bring to universities. The University of Westminster has been involved in international education…

There are a lot of conversations going on now, due to the pandemic and the resulting travel and visa restrictions, about the value international students bring not only to UK…

Articles

Articles

Another preventable death

Another asylum seeker dies in Glasgow – another preventable death? Mercy Baguma, a young Ugandan mother, was found dead in her flat in Glasgow in August. According to reports, her one-year-old…

Issues faced by BAME women in the UK

This blog was first published on Engender. I came across some shocking news regarding the health and the high rate of death of pregnant black women recently, which I…

Asylum seekers with disabilities and Covid-19

As an asylum seeker with a disability, I am of the opinion that people like myself are very vulnerable and more exposed to Covid-19 when compared with other people and…

Campaign to keep Grandma in the UK

An elderly grandma will be ripped from her adopted family and friends and be deported back to India if she is not given ‘Leave to Remain’ in the UK. A…

Has Covid-19 altered media coverage of immigration?

The British press is notably hostile in its coverage of immigration. Between 2010 and 2016, the Daily Express ran a staggering 179 front pages devoted to anti-migrant stories, with the…

Syed's story: "I came to the UK to study and lost my future"

Monitored constantly, branded a ‘liability’, feeling like a criminal. This has now become the reality of Syed’s experience in the UK higher education system. Yet it is a far cry…

A year cut short due to Covid-19

London, home to some of the best museums in the world, seemed the obvious place to do museum studies, and being an American holding an Irish passport conferred an additional…

The dark side of policies for international students

Students aspiring to study abroad go through a careful decision-making process before choosing to move their whole life to a different country for a minimum of 3-4 years. They weigh…

My dreams were shattered due to Covid-19

Here I am, the sun lazily dipping beneath the treetops, absent-mindedly tracing the brim of my shimmering, sun-struck wineglass on my back porch. And as I’m sitting here with my…

What do international students mean to the University of Westminster?

There are a lot of conversations going on now, due to the pandemic and the resulting travel and visa restrictions, about the value international students bring not only to UK…

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