PUNE: As a precautionary measure, the International Students Centre at the University of Pune (UoP) has decided to introduce a card system to keep track of foreign students under UoP.

The International Centre is a nodal agency for admission of foreign students in UoP affiliated colleges.

In the current year, around 4,000 foreign students have taken admissions in different colleges through the Centre.

According to moderate estimate, around 14,000 foreign students are studying in the city. Besides, around 1,000 foreign nationals are staying in the city on work permit.

Once, foreign nationals register at the Police Commissioner Office and get residential permit, police have no means to track their activities.

Police fear that at least 5-10 per cent foreign nationals stay back illegally in the city after their visa is expired.

Police have urged educational institutes to keep track of foreign students. In a first step towards it, the UoP Centre will introduce the card system.

It will be mandatory for a foreign student to provide all requisite information on a card including date of expiry of visa and address proof. The student will have to visit the Centre after every six months and submit proof of his/her attendance for respective course.

Director of the Centre Vasudha Garde said, “Terrorist attacks have underlined the need of vigilance in all fields. Till now, once a foreign student gets admission in a college, the Centre does not have a face-to-face contact with students. We meet some of them during cultural events, but that does not give real picture.

Hence, we have prepared cards for foreign students. Students will have to report to the Centre every six months. This will also be helpful to students as they can seek our help in unsorted issues.”

Meanwhile, the special branch of city police has asked institutes to furnish information on foreign students in a prescribed format. Police conveyed this in a meeting with representatives of educational institutes last week.