| Accreditation Service for International Colleges and Universities | |
| Abbreviation: | ASIC |
| Formation: | 2007 |
| Status: | Private company[1] |
| Purpose: | Assuring UK border reporting, and quality assurance services to independent colleges and universities |
| Location: | ASIC House, 13 Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3NJ, England |
| Region Served: | UK and Global |
| Membership: | ENQA (affiliate), CHEA IQG, EDEN, NAFSA, BQF, UN Academic ImpactContinuing Professional Development Professional Development |
| Leader Title: | Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Maurice Dimmock |
| Main Organ: | ASIC Board |
The Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC) is a private educational agency based in the United Kingdom that accredits UK-based and international schools, universities, and other education providers.[2]
ASIC has been appointed by the United Kingdom Government's Home Office UK Border Agency to accredit private UK colleges for visa purposes.[3] In this capacity, ASIC distinguishes colleges that actually provide educational services from bogus institutions that allow international students to obtain fraudulent visas.[4] [5]
In 2009, The Times reported that Maurice Dimmock, ASIC's director and chief officer, had been sacked in 2003 from his job at Northumbria University as director of overseas operations.[6] [7] The article stated that the newspaper had "established that the Home Office received, and ignored, concerns about ASIC and Dimmock before it granted the company a contract. Northumbria University wrote to the UK Home Office in May 2007 to question the role the company was about to be given in distinguishing between genuine and bogus colleges."[6]
Universities UK, the advocacy group for British Universities, complained to the UK Immigration Minister concerning ASIC being given an accreditation role in the UK immigration scheme. In a letter to the Home Affairs Committee, Advocacy UK wrote: "There is a lack of information and transparency about [ASIC's] management, governance, and financial structures. Several of the colleges that it accredits have been associated with inappropriate activities." The government response to this was a statement that the 2007 decision was made on the basis of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills's report that they were satisfied with the way ASIC was operating. ASIC responded to the allegations concerning its work of distinguishing between genuine colleges and those acting fraudulently had been hampered "by the Home Office’s refusal to tell ASIC how many student visas were issued for each college it inspects."
In July 2009, ASIC submitted a response memorandum providing answers to the letter written by Diana Warwick, Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe, Chief Executive of Universities UK in which she had expressed concerns about the government's decision to approve the ASIC as one of the accreditation bodies within the new immigration system. In the response, ASIC provided information as to its accreditation and inspection processes and responded to charges regarding the organization's governance and finances.[8]
As of October 2020, ASIC is based in a semi-detached (duplex) residential property at 13 Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3NJ. This is also the registered address for Qisan Ltd and Rose Education Foundation Limited.[9] Its directors were Maurice and Margaret Dimmock.[6]