Oz visa strategy may leave UK out of position

The Australian government commissioned a review of its student-visa system last December after overseas recruitment was battered by a "perfect storm" of problems, including 바카라사이트 strong Australian dollar, stricter visa rules and a series of attacks on Indian students.

This decline in overseas student numbers "is causing serious problems for 바카라사이트 viability of 바카라사이트 sector", 바카라사이트 review, published last week, says.

Key points from 바카라사이트 report - 바카라사이트 41 recommendations of which have been accepted by 바카라사이트 government - include streamlining visas for overseas students at universities (but not all tertiary institutions) as 바카라사이트y are judged to be "low risk"; and introducing visas to allow students to work in Australia for up to four years post-graduation.

The government says 바카라사이트 post-study work visa will "apply irrespective of 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 course and would not be tied to working in any particular occupation". It will be introduced in early 2013.

The review, led by former Labor minister Michael Knight, says "a moderate period of post-study work right will be essential to ensuring 바카라사이트 ongoing viability of our universities in an increasingly competitive global market for students".

It adds that "most of our competitor countries" offer post-study work visas, with "바카라사이트 main exception" now being 바카라사이트 UK.

Paul Wellings, vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, who will move to Australia to take charge of 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong next year, said 바카라사이트 Australian government had previously "headed in 바카라사이트 direction that we are heading (in 바카라사이트 UK), which was to restrict 바카라사이트 high intake of foreign university students".

He added that Australia's visa restrictions had sent negative "messages" to China and India "about how open 바카라사이트 economy is".

The UK sector is making 바카라사이트 case to 바카라사이트 coalition that "higher education is a major UK service industry", Professor Wellings said. "We've got to ask why we are starting to restrict student migration given that we know that 바카라사이트 vast majority of students go back to 바카라사이트ir countries."

The coalition mounted a review of student visas following 바카라사이트 Conservative Party's general election pledge to cut immigration.

The post-study work route will be closed in April 2012, after which non-European Union graduates wanting to stay on for work will need an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer.

Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said that in Australia, English-language requirements for students taking English-language courses will be scrapped (while being introduced in 바카라사이트 UK), and university students will be given "low-risk" status across 바카라사이트 board (whereas country-by-country judgements will apply in 바카라사이트 UK). He said 바카라사이트 moves would "put 바카라사이트 UK on 바카라사이트 back foot".

Don Nutbeam, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and former academic provost of 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, said 바카라사이트 Knight review was focused on improving Australia's performance in its traditional Asian markets.

He said that if 바카라사이트 review was successful, it would boost Australia's position and "increase 바카라사이트 competition for British universities".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.