UK ministers have launched an investigation into “bogus colleges” that lure foreigners to Scotland by signing them up for courses at institutions that don’t exist. Home Office officials launched the probe two months ago after senior figures in the Association of Scottish Colleges (ASC) warned that students were being conned by firms pretending to offer HNCs and HNDs. The ASC also fears some companies could be trading as education providers as a way of trafficking illegal immigrants into Scotland and equipping them with visas. The issue was raised by the ASC in July at a meeting of the Joint Education Taskforce, a body created by the government to bring together all the key stakeholders in the sector. ASC complained that “bogus colleges” north of the Border were leaving students “without support” and jeopardising their stay in the UK. http://www.sundayherald.com/52061