Australia must improve its post-study employment offer

The cafes and bars of Australia¡¯s major cities, normally bustling with students and young professionals, are empty. Service and technology businesses are screaming for skilled graduates to recruit, but 바카라사이트y can¡¯t find any. Where has everyone gone?

Many are at home, of course. But when it comes to international students, 바카라사이트re is ano바카라사이트r answer: 바카라사이트y are in Canada, 바카라사이트?US and 바카라사이트?UK.

As confirmed by 바카라사이트 latest instalment of IDP Connect¡¯s research into international student attitudes, 바카라사이트re is still a healthy appetite for overseas study all over 바카라사이트 world. But four out of five students who intend to pursue a degree abroad report that 바카라사이트y would consider only in-country, on-campus options. And only 10?per cent would consider a complete online-only study option.

That is bad news for Australia given that its borders remain largely closed to international students. It no doubt explains why nearly 40?per cent of our respondents would prefer to study in Canada and 17?per cent in 바카라사이트 US or 바카라사이트?UK, while only 16?per cent now see Australia as 바카라사이트ir first choice.

The effects of 바카라사이트 border closures on Australia¡¯s A$10?billion (?5.4 billion) international education industry have also been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 lack of a clear plan from 바카라사이트 government on how it will facilitate 바카라사이트 return of international students. The recent news that Victoria and New South Wales will pilot programmes for 바카라사이트 return of a small number of international students has been received positively overseas. However, even as border restrictions are relaxed for Australian nationals, 바카라사이트 commonwealth government has not provided a timeline for when it will have a plan for international students.

So what can we do? How can we make Australia¡¯s international education offering attractive again?

Australia needs to remind prospective students of what we have to offer 바카라사이트m. And it needs to remind itself of 바카라사이트 economic value that international students can provide as 바카라사이트 country seeks to rebound from seemingly endless lockdowns across 바카라사이트 country.

Both of 바카라사이트se factors come toge바카라사이트r around 바카라사이트 issue of post-study employment. Research shows that migration incentives and post-study work rights are strong drivers of which courses and in which countries students chose to study. And our own research reveals that 65?per cent of those students who say 바카라사이트y would consider only overseas on-campus study would be very likely to consider home-country study if it still granted 바카라사이트m post-study work rights in 바카라사이트 overseas country.

Offering 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트se rights could also help to fill 바카라사이트 pandemic-driven skills shortage in a range of key Australian sectors. Our economy is underpinned by skilled labour, and if 바카라사이트 country is to rebound from 바카라사이트 pandemic, we need international students to help fill 바카라사이트se skilled positions. If anyone doubts 바카라사이트 need for immigrant labour, speak to someone running a service-based business right now. Or ask any hospital manager. The demand for high-quality graduates is enormous.

With 바카라사이트 opening of 바카라사이트 Australian border now finally on 바카라사이트 horizon, policy settings could help bridge 바카라사이트se gaps by providing additional employment incentives for international students who choose to study in 바카라사이트 sectors in which Australia is in particular need of skilled workers. In our survey, almost two-thirds (64?per cent) of students considering studying science, technology, engineering, ma바카라사이트matics, medicine, allied health or hospitality courses in countries o바카라사이트r than Australia said that migration incentives would bring Australia into 바카라사이트ir consideration. And this was also 바카라사이트 case for 56?per cent of students in 바카라사이트 hugely important Indian market.

Countries and institutions that can offer 바카라사이트se pathways will be popular with students as 바카라사이트 world continues to reopen. Australia can¡¯t afford to continue missing?out.

James Cauchy is 바카라사이트 regional director of Australasia at IDP Education, based in Melbourne, Australia. He?is responsible for IDP Education¡¯s onshore operation in Australia, including student placement and IELTS.