Dissapearing Acts Editing involves research, fact checking and word finesse. Below is an example of how Monika has teased in interesting, coherent story out of something rough and short. First read the original story as it was translated, then read her edited story, which is also featured in the accompanying headline link.

Original

21 Chinese students went missing from the university of Pécs, reports Népszabadság. They probably only attended the university to obtain a visa and then leave to other European countries. Foreign students often attend Hungarian universities with this intention.

50 Chinese students graduated from the university of Pécs during the last ten years. Since 2007 November, other 87 Chinese students have applied for the three-months English language course offered by the university. Now 21 of them went missing in a single day, without informing anybody about the reasons of their leaving. All the 21 students arrived to Hungary from Fuian province, with the assistance of the same Chinese agency. The university informed the authorities about their disappearance, and if they are found in any European countries, they will probably be banished.

Other universities providing courses in English are already prepared for such migration tricks. In 2004, of the total 98 students from India and Bangladesh 96 went missing a few weeks after beginning their studies. They have not been accepting Indian and Bangladesh students ever since, and they only accept Chinese students if one of the Chinese state universities provides a reference about them. The University of Debrecen pays attention about the agencies recruiting Far-Eastern students because some of these agencies are involved in human trafficking. Corvinus university only accepts students recruited by its own agents. When in March, a man claiming to be a Nigerian university teacher called Corvinus university and asked it to accept twenty students to study in Budapest for two weeks, they called the Nigerian university and found out that they have never heard of that pretended teacher and his twenty students.

Edited by Monika

More foreign students mysteriously "disappear" in Hungary

It seems that Pécs University - as well as the Hungarian immigration authorities - were recently scammed by 21 Chinese students who were accepted to the university only to arrive and then quickly disappear, reports daily Népszabadság

This is not the first time that Hungarian universities have accepted foreigners whose intentions are not scholastic. The portal reports that often citizens from Asia and Africa apply to short-term language programs in order to receive student visas, only to skip out on the courses and head to other European countries shortly after arriving in Hungary.

In the most recent case, the missing students are among 87 Chinese who applied to a three-month English language course at Pécs University last November, using the same recruitment agency in China.

Officials at the university have notified the country's immigration authorities about the possible scam, and reported that if the missing Chinese citizens are found in other European countries, they will likely be deported. While numerous Chinese students have matriculated at the university, in the last ten years only fifty have graduated.

Meanwhile, Pécs University has had previous experience with deceptive applications from foreigners. In 2004, all but two of 98 Indian and Bangladeshi students disappeared shortly after beginning their studies in the southwestern city.

Reportedly, the university proceeds carefully now when reviewing applications from such students, and rarely accepts Indians and Bangladeshis. Furthermore, the university said Chinese students are only accepted if a Chinese state universities provides a legitimate reference; however they did not indicate if the students who recently disappeared had this recommendation.

Meanwhile, Budapest's Corvinus University reported last March that the admissions office was contacted by a teacher at a Nigerian university requesting the acceptance of twenty students to a two-week language program. However, when admissions officers contacted the university in question, they discovered there were no records for either the teacher or the students. Consequently, the university says it only accepts foreign students from Asia and Africa who are recruited by Corvinus.

The University of Debrecen similarly reports that agencies representing individuals from Asia are often involved in human trafficking.