AAP
Two more men charged with bribery offences have pleaded guilty in court following a West Australian corruption hearing into the manipulation of English-language competency tests.
Eight men faced bribery charges with six so far pleading guilty.
The Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) charged the men over allegations that English test scores were falsified at Curtin University to help international students obtain visas and residency in Australia.
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Applicants for permanent residency and work or student visas must prove their competence under the International English Testing System (IELTS), which is relied upon by the Department of Immigration.
The offences are alleged to have occurred over 12 months from June 2009.
Rikenkumar Jentilal Vaishnani and Vishal Jitendrakumar Pandya pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Vaishnani faced three charges while Pandya faced five charges.
Both will be sentenced in the Perth District Court on June 10.
Navin Ramji Bhudiya had his case adjourned until May 25 while Kok Keith Low, who worked at Curtin University's language centre, will reappear in court on Friday.
Bhudiya faces three charges while Low faces 14 bribery charges as well as one charge of being a public officer obtaining or seeking a bribe.
Abdul Kader, Vimal Vinodray Majithiya, Pritesh Chetan Shah and Hainder Jit pleaded guilty to their bribery charges in the Perth Magistrates Court last month.
Kader and Shah each faced 14 charges of bribery, while Majithiya and Jit faced two charges.
Source:http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/two-plead-guilty-to-visa-bribe-charges-20110511-1eib6.html
Showing posts with label Study in Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Study in Australia. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
TOEFL scores approved for student visas
Students from around the world who wish to study in Australia can now use their TOEFL® test scores as part of their visa application as announced by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Today's announcement paves the way for Australian higher education institutions to have access to even more quality international students from a diverse range of markets.
Previously, only one English language assessment was accepted for students coming to Australia from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries such as China and India.
Swinburne's Pro Vice- Chancellor (International and Recruitment), Mr Jeffrey Smart said this is great news for Australian universities.
"The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English language assessment worldwide. It is popular with prospective students and agents in all of Australia's major source markets.
" I'm sure that all of Australia's universities, VET and English language providers join me in welcoming the re-introduction of the TOEFL test for student visa purposes.
Smart added that for many years, students have been able to gain academic admission into Australia's universities on the basis of their TOEFL score: now applicants will be able to satisfy visa requirements with this test as well.
"With students in 165 countries taking the TOEFL test, the Department's decision provides a boost to Australia's international student recruitment efforts at a critical juncture as our country's institutions compete for talented international students," Smart said.
David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS's Global Division said that nearly every university and college in Australia already accepts TOEFL scores for admission purposes.
"With this decision, many more international students will be able to consider Australian universities without having to take a second English test for visa purposes. We think this is good for both international students and Australian higher education.
"We hope someday to see the TOEFL test accepted for skilled migration purposes as well."
The announcement is significant for large numbers of international students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries who are interested in studying in Australia. They now have the opportunity to use the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English language proficiency, satisfying the required language component of the visa application process.
For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been the most widely accepted English language assessment in the world, recognised by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies including the most prestigious institutions in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. And with more than 4,500 test sites around the world, the TOEFL test is more convenient than ever for students wishing to apply for study in Australia.
More information about the TOEFL test, including registration dates and free sample test questions, is available at www.TOEFLGoAnywhere.org
About the TOEFL Test
The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English language assessment in the world, recognised by more than 8,000 institutions in more than 130 countries. Globally, the TOEFL test is available at more than 4,500 testing sites. To date, more than 25 million students around the world have taken the TOEFL test.
A clip explaining the decision can be found at:
https://files.me.com/etsmedia/brhxcn.mov
Contact: Dan Bleakman, TOEFLAustralia@howorth.com.au on 02 8281 3823
Source:http://www.swinburne.edu.au/chancellery/mediacentre/media-centre/news/2011/05/toefl-scores-approved-for-student-visas
Today's announcement paves the way for Australian higher education institutions to have access to even more quality international students from a diverse range of markets.
Previously, only one English language assessment was accepted for students coming to Australia from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries such as China and India.
Swinburne's Pro Vice- Chancellor (International and Recruitment), Mr Jeffrey Smart said this is great news for Australian universities.
"The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English language assessment worldwide. It is popular with prospective students and agents in all of Australia's major source markets.
" I'm sure that all of Australia's universities, VET and English language providers join me in welcoming the re-introduction of the TOEFL test for student visa purposes.
Smart added that for many years, students have been able to gain academic admission into Australia's universities on the basis of their TOEFL score: now applicants will be able to satisfy visa requirements with this test as well.
"With students in 165 countries taking the TOEFL test, the Department's decision provides a boost to Australia's international student recruitment efforts at a critical juncture as our country's institutions compete for talented international students," Smart said.
David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS's Global Division said that nearly every university and college in Australia already accepts TOEFL scores for admission purposes.
"With this decision, many more international students will be able to consider Australian universities without having to take a second English test for visa purposes. We think this is good for both international students and Australian higher education.
"We hope someday to see the TOEFL test accepted for skilled migration purposes as well."
The announcement is significant for large numbers of international students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries who are interested in studying in Australia. They now have the opportunity to use the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English language proficiency, satisfying the required language component of the visa application process.
For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been the most widely accepted English language assessment in the world, recognised by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies including the most prestigious institutions in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. And with more than 4,500 test sites around the world, the TOEFL test is more convenient than ever for students wishing to apply for study in Australia.
More information about the TOEFL test, including registration dates and free sample test questions, is available at www.TOEFLGoAnywhere.org
About the TOEFL Test
The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English language assessment in the world, recognised by more than 8,000 institutions in more than 130 countries. Globally, the TOEFL test is available at more than 4,500 testing sites. To date, more than 25 million students around the world have taken the TOEFL test.
A clip explaining the decision can be found at:
https://files.me.com/etsmedia/brhxcn.mov
Contact: Dan Bleakman, TOEFLAustralia@howorth.com.au on 02 8281 3823
Source:http://www.swinburne.edu.au/chancellery/mediacentre/media-centre/news/2011/05/toefl-scores-approved-for-student-visas
Government dilutes IELTS test monopoly
THE IELTS English language test monopoly in the Australian visa business has been weakened.
Today the Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said those applying for student visas also would be able to use the US-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
In Australia, the International English Language Testing System is operated by education broker IDP. Globally, IELTS is owned by Cambridge University, IDP and the British Council.
Under the old rules, students from key markets, such as China, had to furnish an IELTS score as proof of English proficiency to qualify for a student visa.
Mr Bowen said he expected two other tests, the Pearson Test of English Academic and the Cambridge English: Advanced tests, would get official recognition for student visas later this year.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"These additional English language test options will help to create competition in the English language testing market, while creating more test places for student visa applicants,'' he said.
"They will also provide candidates with greater choice and enable them to more quickly obtain test results needed for visa applications.''
However, most controversy about English tests has focused on their role in selecting former international students for permanent residency as skilled migrants.
This is less of an issue now that the Government has weakened the education-migration link although IELTS also remains the required test for the growth category of skilled migrants sponsored by employers.
Mr Bowen said the Government would wait to see how the new tests performed with student visas before deciding whether or not to open up other visa categories to competition.
Today's decision flows from a review of English language tests begun by Mr Bowen's department in 2008.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/ielts-test-monopoly-diluted/story-e6frgcjx-1226059742385
Today the Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said those applying for student visas also would be able to use the US-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
In Australia, the International English Language Testing System is operated by education broker IDP. Globally, IELTS is owned by Cambridge University, IDP and the British Council.
Under the old rules, students from key markets, such as China, had to furnish an IELTS score as proof of English proficiency to qualify for a student visa.
Mr Bowen said he expected two other tests, the Pearson Test of English Academic and the Cambridge English: Advanced tests, would get official recognition for student visas later this year.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"These additional English language test options will help to create competition in the English language testing market, while creating more test places for student visa applicants,'' he said.
"They will also provide candidates with greater choice and enable them to more quickly obtain test results needed for visa applications.''
However, most controversy about English tests has focused on their role in selecting former international students for permanent residency as skilled migrants.
This is less of an issue now that the Government has weakened the education-migration link although IELTS also remains the required test for the growth category of skilled migrants sponsored by employers.
Mr Bowen said the Government would wait to see how the new tests performed with student visas before deciding whether or not to open up other visa categories to competition.
Today's decision flows from a review of English language tests begun by Mr Bowen's department in 2008.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/ielts-test-monopoly-diluted/story-e6frgcjx-1226059742385
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Australian education market faces hard years
Australian immigration department has forecast tough times ahead for its multi-billion dollar international education sector as it said the student enrollments in the country, including from India, would drop more than half by 2014. Overseas student arrivals would drop more than half from early
2010 levels by June 2014, the department briefing in the Red Book suggested.
The Red Book attributed the decline to a new points test, tougher immigration checks, assaults on students, a stronger dollar, quality audits of education providers, and a fresh US campaign for Indian students.
Local universities and colleges dependent on overseas students will be forced to compete for a reduced pool of 64,500 overseas student arrivals in 2013-14, compared with 134,700 in March last year, a briefing for incoming Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, released this week, said.
The fall would "more than offset the projected increase in net overseas migration from a continued economic recovery", The Australian reported.
The number of offshore student visa applications approved in 2009-10 plummeted by almost a third from the previous year to 158,240, while rejections rose by almost a quarter to 31,726.
"Indications are that grant numbers will fall further in 2010-11," the Red Book said.
The hardest hit international education market was indicated for Victoria where the downturn has stripped tens of millions of dollars of revenue from individual universities and forced some, such as Monash, to make up the shortfall with voluntary redundancies.
Last month, the government announced a review of the student visa program, along with extra support for the international education sector, in response to the precipitous fall in student numbers.
Earlier, the Immigration Department had said unsustainable growth in international student numbers had put the country's international education and skilled migration programmes at risk.
"The risk is that low-quality education providers become 'visa factories', selling a migration outcome they had no right to offer, gaining an advantage over genuine educators," the briefing said.
It slammed the industry as one "characterised by many low-quality and fraudulent operators, with many students seeking permanent residence rather than Australian qualifications".
Even after the government's earlier reforms, the student visa programme remained subject to "integrity" problems, it noted.
The education sector is Australia's fourth-largest export earner, contributing more than 17 billion Australian dollars last year.
The Red Book also noted that the government was facing a backlash from tens of thousands of overseas students caught by the government's reforms to international education visa programs who were facing a blowout in the overseas student queue for permanent visas and likely rejection, despite grandfathering provisions aimed at smoothing the adjustment.
In addition to the processing backlog of 140,000 applications in the general skilled migration category, there were 29,000 people seeking processing for partner places under the family reunion programme.
The department warned the backlogs could spark legal action from disaffected people awaiting processing as, under the Migration Act, a person who lodged a valid application was entitled to a decision.
"The use of priority processing directions in recent years, so as to selectively target applications for skilled migration, in combination with high applicant numbers, has meant that some people are persistently at the bottom of the queue with their application unprocessed," the brief said.
source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/Australian-education-market-faces-hard-years/Article1-648918.aspx
2010 levels by June 2014, the department briefing in the Red Book suggested.
The Red Book attributed the decline to a new points test, tougher immigration checks, assaults on students, a stronger dollar, quality audits of education providers, and a fresh US campaign for Indian students.
Local universities and colleges dependent on overseas students will be forced to compete for a reduced pool of 64,500 overseas student arrivals in 2013-14, compared with 134,700 in March last year, a briefing for incoming Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, released this week, said.
The fall would "more than offset the projected increase in net overseas migration from a continued economic recovery", The Australian reported.
The number of offshore student visa applications approved in 2009-10 plummeted by almost a third from the previous year to 158,240, while rejections rose by almost a quarter to 31,726.
"Indications are that grant numbers will fall further in 2010-11," the Red Book said.
The hardest hit international education market was indicated for Victoria where the downturn has stripped tens of millions of dollars of revenue from individual universities and forced some, such as Monash, to make up the shortfall with voluntary redundancies.
Last month, the government announced a review of the student visa program, along with extra support for the international education sector, in response to the precipitous fall in student numbers.
Earlier, the Immigration Department had said unsustainable growth in international student numbers had put the country's international education and skilled migration programmes at risk.
"The risk is that low-quality education providers become 'visa factories', selling a migration outcome they had no right to offer, gaining an advantage over genuine educators," the briefing said.
It slammed the industry as one "characterised by many low-quality and fraudulent operators, with many students seeking permanent residence rather than Australian qualifications".
Even after the government's earlier reforms, the student visa programme remained subject to "integrity" problems, it noted.
The education sector is Australia's fourth-largest export earner, contributing more than 17 billion Australian dollars last year.
The Red Book also noted that the government was facing a backlash from tens of thousands of overseas students caught by the government's reforms to international education visa programs who were facing a blowout in the overseas student queue for permanent visas and likely rejection, despite grandfathering provisions aimed at smoothing the adjustment.
In addition to the processing backlog of 140,000 applications in the general skilled migration category, there were 29,000 people seeking processing for partner places under the family reunion programme.
The department warned the backlogs could spark legal action from disaffected people awaiting processing as, under the Migration Act, a person who lodged a valid application was entitled to a decision.
"The use of priority processing directions in recent years, so as to selectively target applications for skilled migration, in combination with high applicant numbers, has meant that some people are persistently at the bottom of the queue with their application unprocessed," the brief said.
source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/Australian-education-market-faces-hard-years/Article1-648918.aspx
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Overseas students face biometric scans
FOREIGN students will be included in a trial of biometric checks as part of a wider campaign to weed out potential terrorists.
The move has raised concerns, with overseas student educators calling for it to be handled sensitively to ensure negative attitudes to Australia as a study destination are not compounded by the initiative.
The Immigration Department last week confirmed that biometrics would be extended from detainees and asylum-seekers to most types of offshore visa applications, including student visas.
The screening process has been described by the Immigration Department as a discreet, non-intrusive examination that captures a digital facial image and 10-digit fingerprint scan.
The first stage of the trial will be applied at two locations. It then will be extended to missions across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East in line with procedures already operating in Britain, the US, Japan and parts of the Middle East.
People applying for English-language and schools-sector visas as well as for vocational education, higher education, postgraduate research and AusAID visas will be among those subjected to biometric scanning, an Immigration Department fact sheet says. .
"National security and fraud risks in the visa caseload" would guide the biometric collection categories, a department spokesman said.
The move follows the Immigration Department's receipt of a confidential risk assessment of Australia's student visa program last year that raised concerns about identity fraud in higher and vocational education visas.
In 2005, some British universities and colleges of higher education were suspected of becoming safe havens for terrorist ideas and recruits, according to London-based think tank the Social Affairs Unit.
At least two of the London bombers, who killed 52 people in July that year, had studied at British universities or higher education colleges, the Social Affairs Unit noted.
Dennis Murray, executive director of the International Education Association of Australia, said biometric scanning was an increasingly important tool in the fight against identity crime, and "potential students are part of that picture".
But it would be important for the matter "to be handled sensitively at overseas posts so as not to reinforce the current unfortunate perception that international students are not welcome in Australia", he said.
Council of International Students Australia president Robert Atcheson said clear rules were needed to protect individuals' privacy.
Biometric data collection will begin at selected locations in the next seven weeks; these will be announced as they are rolled out.
The government has come under pressure for not naming the countries to be targeted but it has argued it doesn't want undesirables exploiting the information before the system is in place.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/overseas-students-face-biometric-scans/story-e6frgcjx-1225950261579
The move has raised concerns, with overseas student educators calling for it to be handled sensitively to ensure negative attitudes to Australia as a study destination are not compounded by the initiative.
The Immigration Department last week confirmed that biometrics would be extended from detainees and asylum-seekers to most types of offshore visa applications, including student visas.
The screening process has been described by the Immigration Department as a discreet, non-intrusive examination that captures a digital facial image and 10-digit fingerprint scan.
The first stage of the trial will be applied at two locations. It then will be extended to missions across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East in line with procedures already operating in Britain, the US, Japan and parts of the Middle East.
People applying for English-language and schools-sector visas as well as for vocational education, higher education, postgraduate research and AusAID visas will be among those subjected to biometric scanning, an Immigration Department fact sheet says. .
"National security and fraud risks in the visa caseload" would guide the biometric collection categories, a department spokesman said.
The move follows the Immigration Department's receipt of a confidential risk assessment of Australia's student visa program last year that raised concerns about identity fraud in higher and vocational education visas.
In 2005, some British universities and colleges of higher education were suspected of becoming safe havens for terrorist ideas and recruits, according to London-based think tank the Social Affairs Unit.
At least two of the London bombers, who killed 52 people in July that year, had studied at British universities or higher education colleges, the Social Affairs Unit noted.
Dennis Murray, executive director of the International Education Association of Australia, said biometric scanning was an increasingly important tool in the fight against identity crime, and "potential students are part of that picture".
But it would be important for the matter "to be handled sensitively at overseas posts so as not to reinforce the current unfortunate perception that international students are not welcome in Australia", he said.
Council of International Students Australia president Robert Atcheson said clear rules were needed to protect individuals' privacy.
Biometric data collection will begin at selected locations in the next seven weeks; these will be announced as they are rolled out.
The government has come under pressure for not naming the countries to be targeted but it has argued it doesn't want undesirables exploiting the information before the system is in place.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/overseas-students-face-biometric-scans/story-e6frgcjx-1225950261579
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
US gains from our expertise
THE hammering taken by US university endowment funds has opened up the world's most competitive education system to Australian expertise in recruiting and educating overseas students, according to Navitas chief Rod Jones.
"It's only in the last two years that the [postgraduate-oriented] US has become interested in the overseas undergraduate student market," Mr Jones said.
"It's partly linked to endowment funds taking a big hit from the [global financial crisis].
"They are looking for alternative ways of generating income and undergraduates are seen as providing that."
His comments follow a string of US deals by Navitas - Australia's largest provider of university foundation programs for overseas students - and by education agent IDP in the past month.
Defying headwinds from India, Australia was now exporting its expertise in recruiting and educating overseas students to the US, Mr Jones said.
Navitas will provide foundation and first-year university programs for the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and Lowell, and the University of Western Kentucky later this year.
IDP has struck deals with 24 US universities and colleges, including the University of Mississippi and that of Tampa, to recruit Asian and Indian students for their programs.
The new deals bring to 27 the number of US universities and colleges to take advantage of Australian expertise in the global market for undergraduates.
Mr Jones said there was unlikely to be any adverse effect on Navitas's 14 Australian university clients from its initial $4.5 million push into the US.
"We aren't factoring in any reduction in our numbers for Australia , the UK or Canada. There will be additional growth in the [global] market and some of that will be taken up in the US."
Similarly, IDP chief Tony Pollock has shrugged off concerns that the US push by IDP could have a distracting or adverse effect on the Australian market.
Mr Pollock said there were huge numbers of top students from China and elsewhere who had the US as their first choice and were lost to Australian universities because they had no contact with them.
"I believe [the US push] will have a positive impact [on Australia]," Mr Pollock said.
"But I appreciate the only way in which it can be proven is when it's done."
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/us-gains-from-our-expertise/story-e6frgcjx-1225823749396
"It's only in the last two years that the [postgraduate-oriented] US has become interested in the overseas undergraduate student market," Mr Jones said.
"It's partly linked to endowment funds taking a big hit from the [global financial crisis].
"They are looking for alternative ways of generating income and undergraduates are seen as providing that."
His comments follow a string of US deals by Navitas - Australia's largest provider of university foundation programs for overseas students - and by education agent IDP in the past month.
Defying headwinds from India, Australia was now exporting its expertise in recruiting and educating overseas students to the US, Mr Jones said.
Navitas will provide foundation and first-year university programs for the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and Lowell, and the University of Western Kentucky later this year.
IDP has struck deals with 24 US universities and colleges, including the University of Mississippi and that of Tampa, to recruit Asian and Indian students for their programs.
The new deals bring to 27 the number of US universities and colleges to take advantage of Australian expertise in the global market for undergraduates.
Mr Jones said there was unlikely to be any adverse effect on Navitas's 14 Australian university clients from its initial $4.5 million push into the US.
"We aren't factoring in any reduction in our numbers for Australia , the UK or Canada. There will be additional growth in the [global] market and some of that will be taken up in the US."
Similarly, IDP chief Tony Pollock has shrugged off concerns that the US push by IDP could have a distracting or adverse effect on the Australian market.
Mr Pollock said there were huge numbers of top students from China and elsewhere who had the US as their first choice and were lost to Australian universities because they had no contact with them.
"I believe [the US push] will have a positive impact [on Australia]," Mr Pollock said.
"But I appreciate the only way in which it can be proven is when it's done."
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/us-gains-from-our-expertise/story-e6frgcjx-1225823749396
Britain and US preferred by China students
THE best student recruiters in China are switching to the US and Britain as destinations, says agent John Findley.
"All agents [in China] are fed up with our current government's attitude to migration," said Mr Findley, who has just attended this month's Beijing International Education Expo. China is Australia's biggest market.
"Everyone knows students come to Australia for the prospect of migration - everyone, that is, with the exception of the Labor Party and their trade union advisers."
Mr Findley, an education and migration agent who represents a range of providers and spends 50 per cent of his time on the road in China, said other reasons for the desertion of brand Australia were the exchange rate, perceived value for money, less attractive commissions for agents and the greater ease of securing visas to the US and Britain.
"Australian institutions increase fees every year, which is seen as price gouging," he said.
"In China, the publicity given to [alleged] gouging tactics of BHP Billiton and Rio in iron ore negotiations ensures that we are tarred with the same brush - Aussies are now seen as scurrilous, greedy suppliers."
He said the US F1 and British Tier 4 student visas were regarded as easier to get than Australia's 573 student visa.
"Australia is seen as second rate in the global education stakes. We get the student business because the students see a pathway to migration."
That pathway has been made much narrower following staggered reforms that the export education industry has criticised as poorly managed.
Mr Findley said all the agency sales staff he had met in Beijing were trying to get into their company's US department.
"The best recruiters are deserting Australia. All agencies, including [Australia's biggest education broker] IDP, promote the US on their websites. These days, most make the US their headline offering, many are relegating Australia to third, or fourth behind New Zealand. Australia was usually the headline."
An IDP spokesman said it did not promote the US ahead of Australia. "Australia is the main part of our business and will remain so. By offering the US as a destination, as well as Australia, we reach a far larger pool of students interested in international education," the spokesman said.
Tomorrow, Austrade formally takes over from the federal education department the job of marketing education overseas.
Although the offshore Australian Education Centres are to close, Austrade has appointed Adelaide University's Eliza Chui as trade commissioner (education) for the northeast Asia region.
Jane Wallis, a Mandarin-speaker who has worked for Deloitte and PwC in China, will be the new trade commissioner (education) in China.
An Austrade spokesman said the China market was holding up well. "The number of Chinese student commencements in Australia's higher education sector grew by 25 per cent in the year to April 2010," he said.
However, at the end of April this newspaper reported a bleak outlook.
Thomas Wang, of education agent China Star in Beijing, said: "Some universities are expecting a fall of 20 to 30 per cent. I think that's quite optimistic - I think there will be a fall of 50 per cent for some universities."
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/britain-and-us-preferred-by-china-students/story-e6frgcjx-1225885855025
"All agents [in China] are fed up with our current government's attitude to migration," said Mr Findley, who has just attended this month's Beijing International Education Expo. China is Australia's biggest market.
"Everyone knows students come to Australia for the prospect of migration - everyone, that is, with the exception of the Labor Party and their trade union advisers."
Mr Findley, an education and migration agent who represents a range of providers and spends 50 per cent of his time on the road in China, said other reasons for the desertion of brand Australia were the exchange rate, perceived value for money, less attractive commissions for agents and the greater ease of securing visas to the US and Britain.
"Australian institutions increase fees every year, which is seen as price gouging," he said.
"In China, the publicity given to [alleged] gouging tactics of BHP Billiton and Rio in iron ore negotiations ensures that we are tarred with the same brush - Aussies are now seen as scurrilous, greedy suppliers."
He said the US F1 and British Tier 4 student visas were regarded as easier to get than Australia's 573 student visa.
"Australia is seen as second rate in the global education stakes. We get the student business because the students see a pathway to migration."
That pathway has been made much narrower following staggered reforms that the export education industry has criticised as poorly managed.
Mr Findley said all the agency sales staff he had met in Beijing were trying to get into their company's US department.
"The best recruiters are deserting Australia. All agencies, including [Australia's biggest education broker] IDP, promote the US on their websites. These days, most make the US their headline offering, many are relegating Australia to third, or fourth behind New Zealand. Australia was usually the headline."
An IDP spokesman said it did not promote the US ahead of Australia. "Australia is the main part of our business and will remain so. By offering the US as a destination, as well as Australia, we reach a far larger pool of students interested in international education," the spokesman said.
Tomorrow, Austrade formally takes over from the federal education department the job of marketing education overseas.
Although the offshore Australian Education Centres are to close, Austrade has appointed Adelaide University's Eliza Chui as trade commissioner (education) for the northeast Asia region.
Jane Wallis, a Mandarin-speaker who has worked for Deloitte and PwC in China, will be the new trade commissioner (education) in China.
An Austrade spokesman said the China market was holding up well. "The number of Chinese student commencements in Australia's higher education sector grew by 25 per cent in the year to April 2010," he said.
However, at the end of April this newspaper reported a bleak outlook.
Thomas Wang, of education agent China Star in Beijing, said: "Some universities are expecting a fall of 20 to 30 per cent. I think that's quite optimistic - I think there will be a fall of 50 per cent for some universities."
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/britain-and-us-preferred-by-china-students/story-e6frgcjx-1225885855025
No plans to cap the number of foreign students: Australia
Australia Wednesday said it is not changing its student visa policy and there are no plans to cap the number of foreign students studying in the country.
The Australian High Commission issued a statement after media reports stated that around 15,000 Indian students could be forced to return after the new visa policy comes into force July 1.
"First, we are making changes to Australia's skilled migration programme not our student visa programme," said the statement.
It added that these changes were not India-specific.
"They are not targeted at India or any other country. They were not triggered by the problems of the last year over attacks on Indian students," said the High Commission.
"No student, whether from India or elsewhere, currently studying in Australia is going to be asked to cease their course because of changes to our skilled migration programme. They will be allowed to complete their studies. Many have visas that enable them to study courses for several years," said the statement.
At the same time, it was pointed out that a student visa holder is in Australia for only a temporary specified period to study and is not guaranteed migration.
The commission also clarified that there were no plans to restrict the number of student visas.
"These concerns relate to a bill that is currently before the Australian parliament. The amendments proposed in this bill have been designed to manage the skilled migration programme and ensure it meets the labour market needs of the Australian economy as flexibly as possible. There are no plans to apply this to the student visa programme," said the press release.
After their studies, international students can apply for a temporary skilled graduate visa which will give them 18 months with full work rights, it added.
Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/No-plans-to-cap-the-number-of-foreign-students-Australia/articleshow/6111971.cms
The Australian High Commission issued a statement after media reports stated that around 15,000 Indian students could be forced to return after the new visa policy comes into force July 1.
"First, we are making changes to Australia's skilled migration programme not our student visa programme," said the statement.
It added that these changes were not India-specific.
"They are not targeted at India or any other country. They were not triggered by the problems of the last year over attacks on Indian students," said the High Commission.
"No student, whether from India or elsewhere, currently studying in Australia is going to be asked to cease their course because of changes to our skilled migration programme. They will be allowed to complete their studies. Many have visas that enable them to study courses for several years," said the statement.
At the same time, it was pointed out that a student visa holder is in Australia for only a temporary specified period to study and is not guaranteed migration.
The commission also clarified that there were no plans to restrict the number of student visas.
"These concerns relate to a bill that is currently before the Australian parliament. The amendments proposed in this bill have been designed to manage the skilled migration programme and ensure it meets the labour market needs of the Australian economy as flexibly as possible. There are no plans to apply this to the student visa programme," said the press release.
After their studies, international students can apply for a temporary skilled graduate visa which will give them 18 months with full work rights, it added.
Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/No-plans-to-cap-the-number-of-foreign-students-Australia/articleshow/6111971.cms
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Attack on Indians cost Oz $400 mn
Melbourne A steep drop of over USD 400 million has been recorded by Australia in the backdrop of attack on Indian students, crackdown on dodgy private colleges by the Government and the high currency value of Aussie dollar.
The apex university body Universities Australia confirmed that a forecast estimate of a 16 to 20 per cent drop in higher education visas had been realised, according to 'The Australian'.
"There has been a fall in offshore visa grants for higher education of 14,422 for the first nine months of this financial year (to March 2010), compared [with] the same nine-month period a year earlier," UA chief Glenn Withers said adding this was a 20 per cent drop from a base of 69,827 to 55,405.
Withers said the longer-term goals of the government were logical but transition arrangements were "clearly in need of major improvement".
"New policies to correct these past regulatory errors are now instead causing excessive retraction," he said.
Meanwhile, there were reports that the country's education and immigration authorities seems to be at clash over the new immigration rules being set for overseas students.
While Education Federal Department favoured a "softer line" to build the troubled industry, the immigration ministry was for "a tougher stance", the report said quoting a source.
It further cited that there were moves last week to appeal to Education Minister Julia Gillard to intervene with Immigration Minister Chris Evans over country's USD 18.6 billion export education industry as unilateral interventions in its highly exposed business model.
However, another sources said any such move seemed futile as Gillard's office "has no intention of interfering" in Evans portfolio.
A spokeswoman for Gillard also commented that the two departments had "a high level of co-ordination" between them.
Veteran University of NSW pro vice-chancellor Jennie Lang said Australia had to ensure that the skilled occupation list, which applied at the point of a student's enrollment, carried through for the duration of study should they wish residency.
"Students need certainty and, given the list will be changing annually, Australian universities will find themselves in a situation where students will apply for one-year masters-level programmes.
We will lose top undergraduate and higher degree by research students to other destinations," Lang said.
Apart from this a peak international educators association also accused Immigration Department of "serious bad faith" over its intention to create new powers for the minister to cap residency applications by former overseas students.
Dennis Murray said the education sector was "doubly aggrieved" by Immigration Department proposal given it wasn't raised at an industry consultation meeting in Canberra two weeks ago.
Source:http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Attack-on-Indians-cost-Oz--400-mn/635607/
The apex university body Universities Australia confirmed that a forecast estimate of a 16 to 20 per cent drop in higher education visas had been realised, according to 'The Australian'.
"There has been a fall in offshore visa grants for higher education of 14,422 for the first nine months of this financial year (to March 2010), compared [with] the same nine-month period a year earlier," UA chief Glenn Withers said adding this was a 20 per cent drop from a base of 69,827 to 55,405.
Withers said the longer-term goals of the government were logical but transition arrangements were "clearly in need of major improvement".
"New policies to correct these past regulatory errors are now instead causing excessive retraction," he said.
Meanwhile, there were reports that the country's education and immigration authorities seems to be at clash over the new immigration rules being set for overseas students.
While Education Federal Department favoured a "softer line" to build the troubled industry, the immigration ministry was for "a tougher stance", the report said quoting a source.
It further cited that there were moves last week to appeal to Education Minister Julia Gillard to intervene with Immigration Minister Chris Evans over country's USD 18.6 billion export education industry as unilateral interventions in its highly exposed business model.
However, another sources said any such move seemed futile as Gillard's office "has no intention of interfering" in Evans portfolio.
A spokeswoman for Gillard also commented that the two departments had "a high level of co-ordination" between them.
Veteran University of NSW pro vice-chancellor Jennie Lang said Australia had to ensure that the skilled occupation list, which applied at the point of a student's enrollment, carried through for the duration of study should they wish residency.
"Students need certainty and, given the list will be changing annually, Australian universities will find themselves in a situation where students will apply for one-year masters-level programmes.
We will lose top undergraduate and higher degree by research students to other destinations," Lang said.
Apart from this a peak international educators association also accused Immigration Department of "serious bad faith" over its intention to create new powers for the minister to cap residency applications by former overseas students.
Dennis Murray said the education sector was "doubly aggrieved" by Immigration Department proposal given it wasn't raised at an industry consultation meeting in Canberra two weeks ago.
Source:http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Attack-on-Indians-cost-Oz--400-mn/635607/
Thursday, June 10, 2010
India to take up issue of migration policy changes with Oz
India plans to lodge a protest with Australia against the proposed changes in its migration policy that are likely to impact as many as 80,000 existing Indians students in the country, an official said on Thursday.
"Till recently, the racial attacks on Indians was a problem but the bigger problem that is seen emerging is the new migration rules coming into effect from July 1. This will impact a large number of international students, majority of which are from India and China," said a senior official from the Indian consulate in Sydney.
The official said the Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi will be in Sydney on June 12 and meet his counterparts in Sydney on the matter.
"The issue of change in migration rules and its impact on Indian students figures top on his agenda," he said, adding that Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde who is visiting
Sydney on Friday is also likely to take up this cause with the relevant authorities, the official said.
"We are not opposing the migration rule change and the government is well within its right to do so. This law should not be made applicable with retrospective effect as proposed by the Australian government," the official said.
Shinde is on a five-day visit to Australia to discuss energy co-operation. Congress MP Manish Tewari is also in Sydney and is expected to meet All International Students Association in Australia President Navjot Singh on the matter.
"Indian government has not done enough. We are losing hope. We will meet Manish Tewari tomorrow and Minister Ravi on Tuesday and brief them on this matter as also on attacks on
Indian students. We feel cheated by Australian authorities over the immigration issue," Singh said.
According to the High Commission officials, the Indian government is extremely concerned about its students in Australia. The students feel that they have been misled and
after having been charged large amounts of money for education in Australia, they may be asked to leave the country for "no fault of theirs".
There are over 5 lakh foreign students in Australia, bulk of which come from India and China. There are around 95,000 Indian students and the fate of as many as 80,000 may
get affected if the policy changes proposed by the Kevin Rudd government come into force next month.
Increased protests and rallies are being staged by various international student bodies since the proposed changes to Australia's existing migration policy were announced in February this year.
Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-to-take-up-issue-of-migration-policy-changes-with-Australia/H1-Article1-555892.aspx
"Till recently, the racial attacks on Indians was a problem but the bigger problem that is seen emerging is the new migration rules coming into effect from July 1. This will impact a large number of international students, majority of which are from India and China," said a senior official from the Indian consulate in Sydney.
The official said the Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi will be in Sydney on June 12 and meet his counterparts in Sydney on the matter.
"The issue of change in migration rules and its impact on Indian students figures top on his agenda," he said, adding that Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde who is visiting
Sydney on Friday is also likely to take up this cause with the relevant authorities, the official said.
"We are not opposing the migration rule change and the government is well within its right to do so. This law should not be made applicable with retrospective effect as proposed by the Australian government," the official said.
Shinde is on a five-day visit to Australia to discuss energy co-operation. Congress MP Manish Tewari is also in Sydney and is expected to meet All International Students Association in Australia President Navjot Singh on the matter.
"Indian government has not done enough. We are losing hope. We will meet Manish Tewari tomorrow and Minister Ravi on Tuesday and brief them on this matter as also on attacks on
Indian students. We feel cheated by Australian authorities over the immigration issue," Singh said.
According to the High Commission officials, the Indian government is extremely concerned about its students in Australia. The students feel that they have been misled and
after having been charged large amounts of money for education in Australia, they may be asked to leave the country for "no fault of theirs".
There are over 5 lakh foreign students in Australia, bulk of which come from India and China. There are around 95,000 Indian students and the fate of as many as 80,000 may
get affected if the policy changes proposed by the Kevin Rudd government come into force next month.
Increased protests and rallies are being staged by various international student bodies since the proposed changes to Australia's existing migration policy were announced in February this year.
Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-to-take-up-issue-of-migration-policy-changes-with-Australia/H1-Article1-555892.aspx
'Death knell' for overseas students
UNIVERSITIES and colleges have condemned the Rudd government for seeking new powers to nullify the residency applications of potentially thousands of former overseas students, labelling it "the kiss of death" for the $18.6 billion industry.
As overseas students warned of more street protests this weekend, veteran University of NSW pro-vice-chancellor Jennie Lang warned that any suggestion of "capping" student numbers would be "the kiss of death" and turn away prospective students.
"It will trigger a massive downturn in applications to Australia and an upturn in applications to the UK and the US," Ms Lang told The Australian.
"The messages students are hearing through various channels is that Australia no longer wants international students, migrants or foreign investment."
Amid mounting attacks from the education sector, Immigration Minister Chris Evans yesterday said the government had no intention of putting a limit on the number of overseas student visas. He said the government wanted to control only the number of visas in key occupations, and graduate students could still apply for 18-month temporary work visas.
But Monash demographer Bob Birrell said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship had accepted thousands of skilled migration visa applications from former students since the beginning of last year when the critical skills list was introduced. "In principle, the new legislation, if passed, could be used to annul some of these visas and application money returned without Immigration considering the application," he said.
Overseas students fund a quarter of university teaching.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/death-knell-for-overseas-students/story-e6frg6nf-1225878156303
As overseas students warned of more street protests this weekend, veteran University of NSW pro-vice-chancellor Jennie Lang warned that any suggestion of "capping" student numbers would be "the kiss of death" and turn away prospective students.
"It will trigger a massive downturn in applications to Australia and an upturn in applications to the UK and the US," Ms Lang told The Australian.
"The messages students are hearing through various channels is that Australia no longer wants international students, migrants or foreign investment."
Amid mounting attacks from the education sector, Immigration Minister Chris Evans yesterday said the government had no intention of putting a limit on the number of overseas student visas. He said the government wanted to control only the number of visas in key occupations, and graduate students could still apply for 18-month temporary work visas.
But Monash demographer Bob Birrell said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship had accepted thousands of skilled migration visa applications from former students since the beginning of last year when the critical skills list was introduced. "In principle, the new legislation, if passed, could be used to annul some of these visas and application money returned without Immigration considering the application," he said.
Overseas students fund a quarter of university teaching.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/death-knell-for-overseas-students/story-e6frg6nf-1225878156303
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Oz govt screens Indian education migration agents
As part of measures to cleanse the immigration system, Australia has re-registered agents providing e-visa service to Indian students, recognising only 22 companies out of the 121 who expressed interest from across the country.
The measure would serve to tighten the process of immigration after questions were raised over the credibility of several migration agents in India who were allegedly breaching the system and sending students on fake documents.
Australian government had earlier this year asked all student eVisa agents, including registered migration agents operating within Australia and education agents operating outside Australia, to re-register under the new agreement that clearly stated the role expected from them and also included a code of conduct for them.
The earlier access agreement was terminated and the government asked all education agents to submit fresh expressions of interests. While 121 service providers had expressed interest, only 22 were registered by the government after a process.
The focus on immigration was brought about by the increasing number of attacks on Indian students last year, and also after several private colleges closed down leaving students stranded.
The number of Indian students seeking admissions in Australian colleges already dropped this year following large scale media coverage of attacks on the community.
"For agents operating within India, Australian High Commission in New Delhi manages re-registrations. New Delhi has re-registered 22 agencies to lodge student eVisa applications," according to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
DIAC spokesperson said that as a part of the re-registration process, all agents were invited to attend information sessions organised by the department's New Delhi post regarding the new deed of agreement and re-registration.
At these sessions, agents were informed of the six critical criteria that Australian government would look for in eVisa agents, including suitable information verification procedures while assessing visa applications and support documents and a robust internal auditing procedures.
"Some 120 expressions of interest were received by our New Delhi post. All were assessed against a range of objective criteria, and a shortlist of successful agencies was developed," he added.
The new agreemnet refers to transparent procedures for the provision of audits and any sanctions that an agent may incur if they breach the terms of the agreement.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/oz-govt-screens-indian-education-migration-agents-25985.php?cp
The measure would serve to tighten the process of immigration after questions were raised over the credibility of several migration agents in India who were allegedly breaching the system and sending students on fake documents.
Australian government had earlier this year asked all student eVisa agents, including registered migration agents operating within Australia and education agents operating outside Australia, to re-register under the new agreement that clearly stated the role expected from them and also included a code of conduct for them.
The earlier access agreement was terminated and the government asked all education agents to submit fresh expressions of interests. While 121 service providers had expressed interest, only 22 were registered by the government after a process.
The focus on immigration was brought about by the increasing number of attacks on Indian students last year, and also after several private colleges closed down leaving students stranded.
The number of Indian students seeking admissions in Australian colleges already dropped this year following large scale media coverage of attacks on the community.
"For agents operating within India, Australian High Commission in New Delhi manages re-registrations. New Delhi has re-registered 22 agencies to lodge student eVisa applications," according to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
DIAC spokesperson said that as a part of the re-registration process, all agents were invited to attend information sessions organised by the department's New Delhi post regarding the new deed of agreement and re-registration.
At these sessions, agents were informed of the six critical criteria that Australian government would look for in eVisa agents, including suitable information verification procedures while assessing visa applications and support documents and a robust internal auditing procedures.
"Some 120 expressions of interest were received by our New Delhi post. All were assessed against a range of objective criteria, and a shortlist of successful agencies was developed," he added.
The new agreemnet refers to transparent procedures for the provision of audits and any sanctions that an agent may incur if they breach the terms of the agreement.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/oz-govt-screens-indian-education-migration-agents-25985.php?cp
Monday, June 7, 2010
Decade to regain foreign students
THE Australian international education sector could take 10 years to recover from changes to the skilled migration program and a ''tarnished'' reputation among overseas students.
The International Education Association of Australia president Stephen Connelly said the sector would experience a drop in enrolments of 100,000 students over the next year.
''It will be 10 years before the number of international students in Australia reaches 2009 levels,'' he said.
Mr Connelly, who is also RMIT's international and development pro-vice-chancellor, said some providers had ''an emphasis on education as a quick pathway to migration'' and federal government changes to skilled migration visas had caused a drop in enrolments.
Under changes in 2004, the number of students studying vocational training courses that would qualify them for skilled migration increased substantially.
He said the number of international students starting private vocational education and training doubled every two years. ''Clearly this was unsustainable,'' he said.
At the same time, the number of international students coming to Australia for higher education instead of vocational training dropped from 47 per cent in 2005 to just 32 per cent in 2009.
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Julia Gillard said legislative changes made earlier this year would ''help identify illegitimate providers who are in the practice of illegally 'selling' qualifications''.
''Under this new system, providers will have to prove that education is their principal purpose and that they are able to deliver that education to a high standard,'' she said.
Despite backing the government's changes, Mr Connelly said the sector was at risk from ''largely unco-ordinated policy actions by individual government departments''.
''The policy levers being applied by the Australian government are having an effect, as we would hope. Unfortunately they are being applied without proper consultation with the education sectors.''
''Despite the rhetoric, the government is still failing to provide a whole-of-government approach,'' Mr Connolly said.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the government was consulting with the industry.
Source:http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/decade-to-regain-foreign-students-20100607-xqsu.html
The International Education Association of Australia president Stephen Connelly said the sector would experience a drop in enrolments of 100,000 students over the next year.
''It will be 10 years before the number of international students in Australia reaches 2009 levels,'' he said.
Mr Connelly, who is also RMIT's international and development pro-vice-chancellor, said some providers had ''an emphasis on education as a quick pathway to migration'' and federal government changes to skilled migration visas had caused a drop in enrolments.
Under changes in 2004, the number of students studying vocational training courses that would qualify them for skilled migration increased substantially.
He said the number of international students starting private vocational education and training doubled every two years. ''Clearly this was unsustainable,'' he said.
At the same time, the number of international students coming to Australia for higher education instead of vocational training dropped from 47 per cent in 2005 to just 32 per cent in 2009.
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Julia Gillard said legislative changes made earlier this year would ''help identify illegitimate providers who are in the practice of illegally 'selling' qualifications''.
''Under this new system, providers will have to prove that education is their principal purpose and that they are able to deliver that education to a high standard,'' she said.
Despite backing the government's changes, Mr Connelly said the sector was at risk from ''largely unco-ordinated policy actions by individual government departments''.
''The policy levers being applied by the Australian government are having an effect, as we would hope. Unfortunately they are being applied without proper consultation with the education sectors.''
''Despite the rhetoric, the government is still failing to provide a whole-of-government approach,'' Mr Connolly said.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the government was consulting with the industry.
Source:http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/decade-to-regain-foreign-students-20100607-xqsu.html
Visa threat to college students in Australia
About 20 students from an Australian international college will meet immigration officials on Tuesday to stop the government from cancelling their visas.
Scott Bills reports the Adelaide Pacific International College - in South Australia state - offers business, aged care and automotive courses to 450 mostly Indian students.
The Federal Government suspended its registration because of discrepancies in its attendance record-keeping.
But on Monday the Administrative Appeals Tribunal lifted part of the suspension, allowing the school to continue teaching.
About 70 of the college's automotive students are at risk of having their visas cancelled because of supposedly poor attendance records.
Migration agent Mark Glazbrook says he and about 20 students will meet officials from the Immigration Department.
The college says it will fight to get the suspension lifted in total.
Source:http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201006/2920841.htm?desktop
Scott Bills reports the Adelaide Pacific International College - in South Australia state - offers business, aged care and automotive courses to 450 mostly Indian students.
The Federal Government suspended its registration because of discrepancies in its attendance record-keeping.
But on Monday the Administrative Appeals Tribunal lifted part of the suspension, allowing the school to continue teaching.
About 70 of the college's automotive students are at risk of having their visas cancelled because of supposedly poor attendance records.
Migration agent Mark Glazbrook says he and about 20 students will meet officials from the Immigration Department.
The college says it will fight to get the suspension lifted in total.
Source:http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201006/2920841.htm?desktop
Industry fears foreign student retreat
THE international education sector fears government plans due this month to boost the welfare of international students will be flawed by insufficient funding.
There are also growing fears that tighter regulations and immigration restrictions are driving students away from Australia.
The industry is frustrated that international students remain excluded from travel concessions in NSW and Victoria.
There is also concern that federal and state governments will make little new money available to boost accommodation and community engagement.
"The education sector is awaiting the release of COAG's (Council of Australian Governments) international student strategy but indications are that the initiatives proposed by COAG are unlikely to be properly funded," said Stephen Connelly, president of the International Education Association Australia.
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Julia Gillard said funds had been set aside for international education.
The Australia Council for Private Education and Training is the latest body to claim that the industry faced a severe downturn given falling visa applications. It says as many as 32,000 jobs could be shed by March 2012, cutting export revenue by $3.6 million.
The government has introduced tighter restrictions on student visas and a mandated increase in the funds students must prove they have to support themselves. The government has also narrowed the list of skills for immigration priority. There are also tighter regulations on education agents.
These changes are aimed at weeding out dodgy colleges which provide courses in areas such as hairdressing and community welfare that were designed solely to give students residency and which have driven much of the sector's recent growth. But while the sector has backed the intention of the changes, it is worried they are being introduced too quickly.
Ms Gillard's spokeswoman said the tighter regulations were needed to ensure the viability of the industry.
"Education providers who have set up their business to serve as an immigration pathway will need to reassess their priorities, but we believe the vast majority are already delivering quality education and will be well placed to continue to do so," she said.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/industry-fears-foreign-student-retreat/story-e6frgczf-1225876670821
There are also growing fears that tighter regulations and immigration restrictions are driving students away from Australia.
The industry is frustrated that international students remain excluded from travel concessions in NSW and Victoria.
There is also concern that federal and state governments will make little new money available to boost accommodation and community engagement.
"The education sector is awaiting the release of COAG's (Council of Australian Governments) international student strategy but indications are that the initiatives proposed by COAG are unlikely to be properly funded," said Stephen Connelly, president of the International Education Association Australia.
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Julia Gillard said funds had been set aside for international education.
The Australia Council for Private Education and Training is the latest body to claim that the industry faced a severe downturn given falling visa applications. It says as many as 32,000 jobs could be shed by March 2012, cutting export revenue by $3.6 million.
The government has introduced tighter restrictions on student visas and a mandated increase in the funds students must prove they have to support themselves. The government has also narrowed the list of skills for immigration priority. There are also tighter regulations on education agents.
These changes are aimed at weeding out dodgy colleges which provide courses in areas such as hairdressing and community welfare that were designed solely to give students residency and which have driven much of the sector's recent growth. But while the sector has backed the intention of the changes, it is worried they are being introduced too quickly.
Ms Gillard's spokeswoman said the tighter regulations were needed to ensure the viability of the industry.
"Education providers who have set up their business to serve as an immigration pathway will need to reassess their priorities, but we believe the vast majority are already delivering quality education and will be well placed to continue to do so," she said.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/industry-fears-foreign-student-retreat/story-e6frgczf-1225876670821
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Student drop hits economy
TOUGH new immigration rules for foreign students are hitting Australia's economy, with more than 125,000 fewer international students expected to come in the next 12 months, costing more than 31,000 jobs nationwide.
Confidential Immigration Department figures showing new visa applications suggest that Victoria, the state that is most reliant on foreign students, will be hardest hit, with 40,250 fewer students in the next year.
Modelling by Access Economics suggests this will cost 10,100 jobs in Victoria and punch a $1.17 billion hole in the state's export income, more than a quarter of the total value of the state's biggest export industry.
The figures show a 47 per cent drop in the number of visa applications from India alone in the nine months to the end of March.
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training believes export income nationally will take a $3.6 billion hit from the fall in student numbers.
''We've been talking about it for a while, but it's here now,'' the council's national executive officer, Andrew Smith, said.
International student plans were thrown into disarray by changes announced in February by Immigration Minister Chris Evans, which made it tougher for students to obtain a study visa, and also cracked down on their ability to gain permanent residency after graduation.
Last month, Senator Evans cut a number of popular courses, such as hairdressing and cookery, out of the Skilled Occupations List, which is used to decide who can migrate to Australia.
Before the changes were announced, international education was a $17 billion industry nationally, and brought $4 billion every year into Victoria.
''It's affected the entire international education market. India has dropped significantly, there's been a slowdown from China and drops from other key markets, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea,'' Mr Smith said.
His organisation, which represents private colleges, has warned that big and reputable schools are already feeling the pinch. ''We've got a lot of good genuine students and businesses being hurt,'' he said.
The government has made it more difficult for overseas students to gain student visas. It has increased the sum of money they needed to hold in bank accounts to pay for their expenses, and it has rejected a larger number of applicants on integrity grounds.
Mr Smith said these measures had increased the level of uncertainty for applicants. Potential students were responding by applying to Canada, Britain or the United States instead. ''People have lost faith in the Australian market,'' Mr Smith said.
A spokeswoman for Senator Evans did not respond to questions about the economic impact of the changes, but she said genuine international students were still welcome. However, the immigration program ''cannot be determined by the courses studied by international students''.
State Education Minister Bronwyn Pike would also not be drawn on the economic impact to Victoria, saying only that ''we are closely monitoring the impacts''.
Tony Fritsche, whose Mint Group provides job-ready candidates for a number of industries, said the shortage of new immigrants would soon filter through to a shortage of labour.
Source:http://www.theage.com.au/national/student-drop-hits-economy-20100605-xly1.html
Confidential Immigration Department figures showing new visa applications suggest that Victoria, the state that is most reliant on foreign students, will be hardest hit, with 40,250 fewer students in the next year.
Modelling by Access Economics suggests this will cost 10,100 jobs in Victoria and punch a $1.17 billion hole in the state's export income, more than a quarter of the total value of the state's biggest export industry.
The figures show a 47 per cent drop in the number of visa applications from India alone in the nine months to the end of March.
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training believes export income nationally will take a $3.6 billion hit from the fall in student numbers.
''We've been talking about it for a while, but it's here now,'' the council's national executive officer, Andrew Smith, said.
International student plans were thrown into disarray by changes announced in February by Immigration Minister Chris Evans, which made it tougher for students to obtain a study visa, and also cracked down on their ability to gain permanent residency after graduation.
Last month, Senator Evans cut a number of popular courses, such as hairdressing and cookery, out of the Skilled Occupations List, which is used to decide who can migrate to Australia.
Before the changes were announced, international education was a $17 billion industry nationally, and brought $4 billion every year into Victoria.
''It's affected the entire international education market. India has dropped significantly, there's been a slowdown from China and drops from other key markets, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea,'' Mr Smith said.
His organisation, which represents private colleges, has warned that big and reputable schools are already feeling the pinch. ''We've got a lot of good genuine students and businesses being hurt,'' he said.
The government has made it more difficult for overseas students to gain student visas. It has increased the sum of money they needed to hold in bank accounts to pay for their expenses, and it has rejected a larger number of applicants on integrity grounds.
Mr Smith said these measures had increased the level of uncertainty for applicants. Potential students were responding by applying to Canada, Britain or the United States instead. ''People have lost faith in the Australian market,'' Mr Smith said.
A spokeswoman for Senator Evans did not respond to questions about the economic impact of the changes, but she said genuine international students were still welcome. However, the immigration program ''cannot be determined by the courses studied by international students''.
State Education Minister Bronwyn Pike would also not be drawn on the economic impact to Victoria, saying only that ''we are closely monitoring the impacts''.
Tony Fritsche, whose Mint Group provides job-ready candidates for a number of industries, said the shortage of new immigrants would soon filter through to a shortage of labour.
Source:http://www.theage.com.au/national/student-drop-hits-economy-20100605-xly1.html
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Study into racial attacks on foriegn students in Australia
A study is underway by Australia's Institute of Criminology on the extent of racially motivated attacks on foreign students in Australia. It follows a spate of attacks earlier this year which seriously damaged Australia's international reputation. But in the attempt to get more information, the study has opened a whole new controversy and sparked fears of further damage to relations for overseas students. Because Australia's Privacy Commissioner has relaxed normally tough restrictions and released the identity details of half a million foreign students to police, who'll match them with known crimes. The matched information -- minus names -- will then go to the Institute of Criminology for it's study. But Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, says it's been done without the permission of individual students. He believes that the research probably won't work anyway.
Presenter: Linda Mottram
Speaker: Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes
INNES: The problem with this area is that I know from discussions with them as to numerous academics who have also done research in this area that there is chronic under reporting of assaults by international students and so even if we get the answer the level assaults against international students are no higher than the level assaults against other groups, that will not necessarily be correct.
MOTTRAM: Is there another way they could go about this that would find out what they want to know?
INNES: Well, I think we need to be addressing the problem, not trying to work out whether there is a problem. The problem is that part of a motivation for attacks against international students is racial, so we ought to accept that and get on with trying to address the problem which is challenging the persistent pockets of racism in our community. Because whilst it is always good to have the data to support your concerns, this approach of taking people's immigration or visa information and running it against police data, firstly, I don't think it will work and secondly, I think that it destroys any trust that international students may have had in Australian government and government organisations.
MOTTRAM: Is it part of your concern that students aren't actually being consulted on the release of their information?
INNES: Yes, I mean I know that were some requirements by the Privacy Commissioner that the issue should be advertised. My understanding is the number of students who have as a result of those adverts sort to have their data withdrawn from the study, can almost be counted on one hand and that suggests to me, as do the fact that I have presented at several events and been approached by many international students who just were not aware of this process. So those things tell me that the advertising has not worked and that effectively this data is being released without the international students being informed.
MOTTRAM: And just going back to your initial point that there is chronic under reporting of attacks on such students. Why is that the case?
INNES: There is a number of reasons Firstly many of these students come from regimes where security and police forces are not viewed in the benign way that most Australians view our security and police forces. Also students have told me that they are concerned in some cases that police are not acting on the reports. And thirdly, students don't want their families back at home to be aware of these issues, because they are concerned the families might say come home, we don't think your safe.
MOTTRAM: So what do you think ought to be done? Should this study be pulled completely in your view?
INNES: Well, I think it is important to try to study these attacks and I think it would be a good idea for police forces to ask people who do report the issues to volunteer such information. I certainly don't think that peoples immigration data should have been given to police to run against police data, but, as I understand it, that decision has been made and the work is going ahead. But what we need to do is develop a greater trust amongst international students for Australian police and Australian authorities and ensure that international students are made far more aware of their rights so that if these sorts of events do occur in the future, they raise it with the lawful authorities and actions can be taken.
MOTTRAM: And do have any particular suggestions as to how that could be done better?
INNES: Campaigns among international students needs to be run, we need to work with international student organisations, and perhaps there needs to be some sort of compact with international students whereby their rights and entitlements when they come to Australia are more clearly set out.
Source:http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/stories/201006/s2916590.htm
Presenter: Linda Mottram
Speaker: Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes
INNES: The problem with this area is that I know from discussions with them as to numerous academics who have also done research in this area that there is chronic under reporting of assaults by international students and so even if we get the answer the level assaults against international students are no higher than the level assaults against other groups, that will not necessarily be correct.
MOTTRAM: Is there another way they could go about this that would find out what they want to know?
INNES: Well, I think we need to be addressing the problem, not trying to work out whether there is a problem. The problem is that part of a motivation for attacks against international students is racial, so we ought to accept that and get on with trying to address the problem which is challenging the persistent pockets of racism in our community. Because whilst it is always good to have the data to support your concerns, this approach of taking people's immigration or visa information and running it against police data, firstly, I don't think it will work and secondly, I think that it destroys any trust that international students may have had in Australian government and government organisations.
MOTTRAM: Is it part of your concern that students aren't actually being consulted on the release of their information?
INNES: Yes, I mean I know that were some requirements by the Privacy Commissioner that the issue should be advertised. My understanding is the number of students who have as a result of those adverts sort to have their data withdrawn from the study, can almost be counted on one hand and that suggests to me, as do the fact that I have presented at several events and been approached by many international students who just were not aware of this process. So those things tell me that the advertising has not worked and that effectively this data is being released without the international students being informed.
MOTTRAM: And just going back to your initial point that there is chronic under reporting of attacks on such students. Why is that the case?
INNES: There is a number of reasons Firstly many of these students come from regimes where security and police forces are not viewed in the benign way that most Australians view our security and police forces. Also students have told me that they are concerned in some cases that police are not acting on the reports. And thirdly, students don't want their families back at home to be aware of these issues, because they are concerned the families might say come home, we don't think your safe.
MOTTRAM: So what do you think ought to be done? Should this study be pulled completely in your view?
INNES: Well, I think it is important to try to study these attacks and I think it would be a good idea for police forces to ask people who do report the issues to volunteer such information. I certainly don't think that peoples immigration data should have been given to police to run against police data, but, as I understand it, that decision has been made and the work is going ahead. But what we need to do is develop a greater trust amongst international students for Australian police and Australian authorities and ensure that international students are made far more aware of their rights so that if these sorts of events do occur in the future, they raise it with the lawful authorities and actions can be taken.
MOTTRAM: And do have any particular suggestions as to how that could be done better?
INNES: Campaigns among international students needs to be run, we need to work with international student organisations, and perhaps there needs to be some sort of compact with international students whereby their rights and entitlements when they come to Australia are more clearly set out.
Source:http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/stories/201006/s2916590.htm
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