In new guidelines released this week, UoB have said that non-EU staff will be required to register attendance each day by filling in a time card which will be validated each week.

The guidelines further said that if a manager found that ‘any of the details are incorrect they will need to ensure they are raised with the individual and resolved’.

This new system is expected to affect both short and long-term non-EU staff and is being introduced to comply with visa sponsorship duties that the university must uphold.

Unions and campaigners are accusing the university of pursuing draconian and discriminatory monitoring of academics.

President of the Birmingham branch of the University and College Union (UCU), James Brackley said: ‘Under the current system, administrators compile attendance reports on non-EU staff every week in line with Home Office requirements.

‘It appears that the proposed system is a significant escalation of that monitoring and will put them under much greater scrutiny, and give their line managers a lot more power over them.’

Brackley further said that some staff believe it is ‘a racist policy comparable to going through a border checkpoint simply to do their daily work.’

‘It makes them feel like outsiders and that they’re not trusted by their employer. This is causing an enormous amount of stress.’

In response to this, a university spokesperson said: ‘The University of Birmingham is not introducing a new attendance monitoring system for non-EU staff and is not expecting non-EU staff to check in on a daily basis.’

‘Like many other universities, businesses and organisations we are implementing a new finance, HR and payroll IT system to provide self-service to staff. [This] replaces outdated, often paper-based systems and processes and gives staff control of things like booking leave, accessing payslips and changing personal details.’

The University further added that the Home Office requires them to confirm that staff attendance.

Since 2010, universities are required to inform the Home Office regarding any breaches in the visa status of any international student or member of staff, under the hostile environment policy.

Dr. Gareth Edwards, of campaign group International and Broke, told The Guardian: ‘This proposal sends a clear and unfortunate message that non-British staff are not welcome at the University of Birmingham.’