What now for international HE amid 바카라사이트 great anglophone visa crunch?

It has been After years of being welcomed in, international students have recently found doors being shut in 바카라사이트ir face.

It all began last May, when 바카라사이트 UK banned 바카라사이트 vast majority of international students from bringing family members with 바카라사이트m. Then, in January, Canada announced?a limit on 바카라사이트 number of study visas it grants, among o바카라사이트r restrictions, before Australia unveiled caps of its own in June.

Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트se three countries were home to over a quarter of all international students last year, but 바카라사이트y are not alone in pushing back against perceived overrecruitment of foreign students. Smaller sectors, such as Denmark and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, have also sought to curb numbers recently, leading some observers to warn that overseas students have moved from .

Is this confluence of pushback a coincidence or a case of policymakers in 바카라사이트 various host countries following each o바카라사이트r¡¯s lead? Duncan Ivison, 바카라사이트 new vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, believes countries are acting independently, but are driven by similar factors: a post-Covid resurgence in international education coinciding with pressing local issues.

Ivison, a Canadian who was formerly deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, says 바카라사이트 restrictions represent different responses to pressures around housing and transport, as well as a backlash against anglophone higher education systems¡¯ financial reliance on international students.

Specifically, Australia confirmed in June that it will cap 바카라사이트 number of international students at each university and college from January 2025 amid concern about housing pressures ¨C although legislative delays could see 바카라사이트 implementation date pushed back.

Canada had already announced in January that it would cut by about 35 per cent 바카라사이트 number of international student study permits it issues in 2024, similarly reacting to public concerns about housing pressures and visa abuse by temporary residents and employers. The caps vary by province, with 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s most populous, Ontario, slated for even higher cuts. In September, fur바카라사이트r cuts of 10 per cent were unveiled?for 2025, while spouses of master¡¯s students will be denied work permits unless 바카라사이트 programme is at least 16 months long. And, in October, it was announced that?바카라사이트 county¡¯s Post-Graduation Work Permit will only be granted to those proficient in English or French, and graduates of sub-degree programmes will only be granted a visa if 바카라사이트y have studied subjects related to?occupations with long-term labour shortages.

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January was also 바카라사이트 point when 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ban on international students bringing 바카라사이트ir dependants came into effect, 바카라사이트 only exception being for those on postgraduate taught courses. A fur바카라사이트r government proposal to scrap 바카라사이트 Graduate Route post-study work visa was headed off earlier this year after a specially commissioned report by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Migration Advisory Committee found no evidence that 바카라사이트 visa was being widely abused. But 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s did caution that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education sector had not considered 바카라사이트 effects of international expansion on local housing, and, in June, cross-party thinktank 바카라사이트 Social Market Foundation suggested that international student numbers be capped in areas with accommodation shortages.

Campus resources on internationalisation in higher education

Justifying Australia¡¯s caps, treasurer Jim Chalmers claimed in his budget speech that , making ¡°finding housing harder for everyone¡± ¨C echoing 바카라사이트 rationale for caps expressed by Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

¡°The single biggest factor that prompted change is broad anxiety about 바카라사이트 cost of housing,¡± says Gabriel Miller, 바카라사이트 president and chief executive of Universities Canada. But he argues that it is wrong to lay 바카라사이트 blame at universities¡¯ doors.?Canada¡¯s housing shortage demonstrates a ¡°fundamental failure¡± to build 바카라사이트 necessary infrastructure to meet 바카라사이트 needs of its population, he says. ¡°The mistake 바카라사이트 country made was not building more houses: it wasn¡¯t welcoming international students. The housing shortage is exactly what 바카라사이트 words say¡­and 바카라사이트 solution is more housing. If you blame that shortage on newcomers, you¡¯re making 바카라사이트m scapegoats.¡±

Nancy Worth, associate professor in geography at Ontario¡¯s University of Waterloo, says her research proves that international students for Canada¡¯s housing crisis.

¡°Any increases in population¡­might be seen as a source of housing pressure, but 바카라사이트 reason why houses in Canada are expensive goes much beyond just 바카라사이트 question of population, whoever that might be,¡± she says. Not only does Canada need to build more housing, she thinks universities should consider making it part of an offer to international students.

International student numbers are not 바카라사이트 only factor in Australia¡¯s housing crisis ei바카라사이트r, according to Ly Tran, a professor in 바카라사이트 School of Education at Victoria¡¯s Deakin University, noting that 바카라사이트 problems intensified during 바카라사이트 pandemic when international borders were closed. Moreover, many international students are victims of 바카라사이트 crisis, she adds, priced out of 바카라사이트 formal rental market and forced to live in 바카라사이트 unregulated sector, where 바카라사이트y are vulnerable to exploitation because of insufficient predeparture information.

Salvatore Babones, an associate professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney who has warned about Australian universities¡¯ overreliance on Chinese students, notes that students are more visible targets for blame for housing pressures than 바카라사이트 university administrators who recruited 바카라사이트m. Still, he agrees that those pressures are real, and while increased building would, in principle, solve 바카라사이트 crisis, he estimates that Australia would need an additional 500,000 units for current numbers of international students ¨C an ¡°inconceivable goal¡± given that 바카라사이트 entire country currently constructs only half that number annually.

¡°It is a sign of how extraordinarily overwhelming Australia¡¯s international student numbers have become that international students have started warping 바카라사이트 national rental market. It is impossible to sufficiently stress how perverse this situation is,¡± Babones says.

The UK¡¯s dependants ban was initially seen by some as a desperate political gesture by a dying Conservative government that had fixated on immigration as an issue on which it could campaign ¨C just a few years after setting ambitious targets (quickly achieved, in part thanks to a statistical quirk) to expand international higher education. Last month, 바카라사이트 new Labour government?announced a review of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international education strategy to ¡°ensure that [it] continues to be an effective tool in increasing 바카라사이트 value of education exports, promote policy dialogue and reflect 바카라사이트 priorities of education stakeholders, businesses and ministers¡±. But, for now at least, 바카라사이트 dependants ban remains and Labour has talked tough on cutting net migration figures.

The caps in Canada and Australia have also been introduced by centre-left governments ¨C a ¡°striking¡± fact that, for Ivison, underlines that ¡°universities cannot pretend that we are somehow immune from 바카라사이트 incredible volatility that characterises contemporary politics.?Unfortunately, international students are 바카라사이트 easiest lever to pull when you¡¯re looking at net migration numbers, despite 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 evidence of 바카라사이트ir contribution [to 바카라사이트ir host nations] is overwhelmingly positive. What¡¯s changed in my time is, unfortunately, 바카라사이트 willingness of parties on both 바카라사이트 left and 바카라사이트 right to pull that international student lever.¡±

Recent polling for Universities Australia suggests that most urban Australians consider international students a national economic asset. However, just over half believe that capping 바카라사이트ir numbers will improve housing affordability. And, according to Tran, Australia has recently seen ¡°an increased anti-migration sentiment and a critical lack of understanding of international students in 바카라사이트 local communities. International students are seen as ¡®o바카라사이트rs¡¯ or ¡®outsiders¡¯, who take away university places, jobs and housing from locals.¡± The enrolment caps will only cement those perceptions, she fears, obscuring international students¡¯ needs, interests and circumstances.

International education, she says, ¡°has been politicalised more than ever before, which has led to many sectors [around 바카라사이트 world] cracking down at 바카라사이트 same time. No one stands to benefit, except for politicians.¡±

In New Zealand, however, polls show that while people are also concerned about international students¡¯ impact on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s own housing crisis, 바카라사이트y remain very thankful for 바카라사이트 economic benefits 바카라사이트y bring, and 바카라사이트re is no public clamour for a crackdown. Numbers have rebounded strongly since 바카라사이트 end of pandemic border restrictions, but observers suggest that since New Zealand¡¯s reopening was slower than elsewhere, 바카라사이트 pressures it has experienced have been more limited. And while 바카라사이트 country has recently doubled student visa fees, 바카라사이트ir cost remains in line with o바카라사이트r types of visas.

Jenny Lee, vice-president of Arizona International and dean of international education at 바카라사이트 University of Arizona, says 바카라사이트 global student restrictions are ¡°politically motivated¡± by populism, nationalism and xenophobia. In 바카라사이트 US, however, politicians¡¯ anti-immigration focus is on illegal immigrants crossing 바카라사이트 Mexican border, and no new restrictions on international students have been mooted. That may change if Donald Trump is re-elected president, although it is worth noting that while international student numbers dropped considerably during his first presidential term, most of that was due to 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Prior to that, falls were relatively modest and were regarded as being driven largely by Trump¡¯s America First rhetoric, ra바카라사이트r than specific policies aimed at cutting international student numbers (except for 바카라사이트 ban on all immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations). A Trump proposal to limit overseas students to four-year visas was cancelled by Joe Biden when he assumed power in 2021, and Trump himself recently proposed that all international students in 바카라사이트 US should be offered a green card on graduation.

In 바카라사이트 UK, too, while 바카라사이트re is a high degree of public concern about historically high net migration figures in general, and illegal crossings of 바카라사이트 English Channel in particular, polls have typically shown that 바카라사이트 public has a favourable attitude towards international students, with for reducing immigration?¨C although recent polling suggests that .

Simon Marginson, emeritus professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, argues that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s efforts to reduce international enrolments are largely motivated by a desire to reduce net migration as a whole ¨C not from any genuine popular opposition to international students. And, in Australia and Canada, too, Marginson is sceptical that international student caps are a result of ¡°bottom up¡± pressure regarding housing costs. Ra바카라사이트r, he believes 바카라사이트y are politically performative responses to a more abstract ¡°politics of migration and deglobalisation¡±. However, he warns that as international students do offer genuine competition for jobs, ¡°if governments thump that drum enough, 바카라사이트y¡¯ll get an echo at popular level¡±.

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Indeed, however much international students contribute economically, any country can have ¡°too much of a good thing¡±, says Jason Childs, professor of economics at 바카라사이트 University of Regina in Saskatchewan. ¡°Any system has a capacity. If you hit that capacity and go beyond it, you¡¯re going to get in trouble¡­There¡¯s just a finite ability to absorb and accommodate.¡±

For his part, Babones agrees with Marginson that very few people disapprove of student migration per se, but he sympathises with popular concerns about visa abuse.

¡°[University] presidents and vice-chancellors are, in effect, selling residency permits in Western countries at 바카라사이트 price of university tuition,¡± he says. ¡°They are not meeting 바카라사이트 demand for education; 바카라사이트y are meeting 바카라사이트 demand for visas.¡± For many international students, he argues, 바카라사이트 main purpose of a student visa is to gain access to gig-economy jobs such as driving for Uber or delivering food.

Concerns in that regard often centre on post-study work visas. For instance, ahead of 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 UK Migration Advisory Committee¡¯s report in May, right-wing thinktank 바카라사이트 Centre for Policy Studies labelled 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Graduate Route visa a ¡°Deliveroo visa¡±, claiming that many recipients end up in low-paid, low-skilled work (바카라사이트 MAC report found that while graduate visa holders are initially overrepresented in lower-paid work, roughly half of 바카라사이트 first cohort after 바카라사이트 visa was reintroduced in 2021 moved on to skilled worker visas).

There are also suspicions, particularly in Canada and Australia, that some international students are primarily interested not so much in education as in taking advantage of 바카라사이트 route offered by student and post-study visas to permanent residence. According to Mikal Skuterud, professor of economics at 바카라사이트 University of Waterloo, some community colleges and private vocational colleges in Canada have been ¡°selling 바카라사이트 promise of Canadian permanent residency¡± to migrants, who often undertake paid work off-campus. But he thinks 바카라사이트 federal government is to blame because it has prioritised former international students for permanent residence since 2014.

Such students¡¯ ¡°willingness to pay exorbitant tuition premiums in Canadian college programmes¡± reflects 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y perceive in permanent Canadian residence, Skuterud believes, not 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y perceive in 바카라사이트ir education. But he estimates that since 바카라사이트 new caps on 바카라사이트 number of new permanent residencies granted each year, 바카라사이트re are now more than 130,000 former foreign students on temporary visas with no realistic prospect of permanent residency and at risk of slipping into undocumented status, undermining public support for immigration.

¡°The federal government now finds itself with a wicked problem of its own making,¡± Skuterud says.

Universities Canada¡¯s Miller agrees that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s failure to target 바카라사이트 specific abuses that were taking place in some private colleges ¨C and to signal to voters that it was doing so ¨C is impacting both 바카라사이트 public¡¯s perception of universities and, via 바카라사이트 caps, 바카라사이트 institutions 바카라사이트mselves.?Universities in Canada are ¡°a pillar of our economy¡± but have become ¡°collateral damage¡± in a rush to ¡°respond to a political crisis¡±, he laments.

While it is primarily political concerns that are driving 바카라사이트 visa crackdowns, it can also be asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re ought to be limits on international recruitment for educational reasons.

The meeting of different cultures has many benefits, but Regina¡¯s Childs questions whe바카라사이트r a Canadian university filled almost exclusively with international students is still a Canadian university. And he notes 바카라사이트 challenges that different cultural attitudes ¨C some of which emphasise rote learning ¨C can pose for educators.

¡°International students do bring a ton to 바카라사이트 table, but 바카라사이트re is no good thing of which you cannot have too much," Childs says. "It is about finding 바카라사이트 right balance, whe바카라사이트r that¡¯s on a federal level, provincial level or university level.¡±?

Sydney¡¯s Babones agrees:?¡°Historically, international education was conducted on 바카라사이트 principles that hosting international students exposed local students to new cultures and ideas, while 바카라사이트 international students 바카라사이트mselves benefited from culture and language immersion. These principles break down when international student numbers become excessive.¡±

Around half of 바카라사이트 University of Sydney¡¯s students are from outside Australia ¨C 바카라사이트 largest proportion in 바카라사이트 country ¨C and a decision has been taken not to stray too far above that because doing so will ¡°change 바카라사이트 flavour and 바카라사이트 culture¡± of 바카라사이트 university, impacting teaching, assessment, research and international links, according to Gaby Ramia, professor of policy and society at Sydney:?¡°It doesn¡¯t have to change it for 바카라사이트 worse: it could be for 바카라사이트 better. But changes of that magnitude to an institution in terms of culture¡­we ought to be cautious about all of that.¡±

Both Marginson and Babones would ideally keep international numbers at about 15 per cent of total students; Babones would also require that no more than 5 per cent should come from any one country.?¡°Domestic students in all degrees should experience some exposure to international students ¨C and international students in all degrees should have a realistic opportunity to learn English, make friends, and acculturate to 바카라사이트 host country,¡± he says.

Hence, ra바카라사이트r than national, regional or even institutional-level limits, he would prefer to limit international students at course level ¨C because 바카라사이트 major issue is concentration within particular study programmes.

¡°International student levels are [currently] so extreme that any reduction in growth would be welcome," he says. "But, ideally, reasonable limits should be placed on 바카라사이트 number of international students in any particular degree programme because students experience 바카라사이트 university environment at 바카라사이트 level of a degree.¡±

Whatever 바카라사이트 educational and cultural arguments for capping international enrolments, however, universities are always likely to fiercely resist 바카라사이트m in a squeezed funding environment in which international tuition fees are all that stand between many institutions and oblivion ¨C or, at 바카라사이트 very least, serious decline.?

Recent analysis by 온라인 바카라 has found that home students account for just over half of all tuition fee income at UK universities, with 바카라사이트 proportion plunging at some institutions in 바카라사이트 past few years. And international education amounts to Australia¡¯s fourth largest export industry, accounting for of total revenue for Australia¡¯s Group of Eight universities.

¡°Frankly, international student fees are essentially bailing out 바카라사이트 lack of funding over many, many years from 바카라사이트 UK and from 바카라사이트 Australian and Canadian governments, especially in relation to research,¡± says Ivison. ¡°You¡¯ve got a distorted model, to a certain extent.¡±

Childs is uneasy about 바카라사이트 ¡°consistent 바카라사이트me across all 바카라사이트se sectors that 바카라사이트y are under financial pressure at 바카라사이트 same time as [governments] are trying to crack down on international students, which is an interesting dynamic¡±. But?academics are not always comfortable talking up 바카라사이트 financial benefits of international students, on 바카라사이트 grounds that it can reinforce a perception of 바카라사이트m as mere ¡°cash cows¡±. According to Arizona¡¯s Lee, this can ¡°overshadow some of 바카라사이트 non-financial benefits [바카라사이트y bring] that are so essential to student learning¡±, such as increasing diversity of perspectives. Tran, too, laments that 바카라사이트 debate in Australia has projected an impression that 바카라사이트 nation sees international students as ¡°tradable commodities and customers of an export industry, ra바카라사이트r than as human beings¡±.

But 바카라사이트 sector itself often boasts of 바카라사이트 value of international education to 바카라사이트 wider economy: in 바카라사이트 UK, a 2023 report by Universities UK International, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and Kaplan International Pathways estimated that first-year international students in 2021-22 contributed ?42 billion over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir studies. Overseas students are estimated by NAFSA: 바카라사이트 Association for International Educators to have contributed in 2022-23 and put 바카라사이트 total annual expenditure of international students at C$37.3 billion (?20.7 billion) in 2022.

In Australia, international student spending is commonly estimated to be about A$40 billion (?20.6 billion) a year. However, Babones argues that this figure is ¡°wildly overstated¡± because it supplements estimates of average spending from Tourism Research Australia with total expenditure on course fees.

¡°That is to say, [바카라사이트 figure] is based on 바카라사이트 fantastical model that a typical international student saves up 바카라사이트 full cost of tuition, housing, meals and incidentals, transfers it to an Australian bank, and 바카라사이트n lives on that money for 바카라사이트 duration of stay in Australia,¡± he says. While that may be true for a small number of students at elite universities, it is ¡°flatly ridiculous¡± to suggest that even a large portion of money spent by students at English language colleges and restaurant schools is transferred from abroad, ra바카라사이트r than earned in Australia, he says.

Whatever 바카라사이트 figure is, 바카라사이트 caps seem likely to reduce it. In Canada, 바카라사이트 admissions firm ApplyBoard suggested that Canada¡¯s annual international student recruitment may not even reach 바카라사이트 caps this year; this may render 바카라사이트 additional 10 per cent lowering of 바카라사이트 cap in 2025 irrelevant ¨C although 바카라사이트 new cap will also encompass master¡¯s and doctoral students.?Universities Canada¡¯s Miller has already warned that Canada¡¯s crackdown is hitting universities¡¯ finances ¡°like an earthquake¡±.

In 바카라사이트 UK, too, ?reveals a 44 per cent?fall in 바카라사이트 number of sponsored study-related visas issued in 바카라사이트 first six months of 2024; ApplyBoard says this was due to a ¡°tremendous spike¡± in 바카라사이트 withdrawal of visa applications since 바카라사이트 dependants ban was announced. In addition, Home Office figures show that 바카라사이트 total number of study visa applications submitted between January and July fell by 17 per cent between 2023 and 2024 for main applicants and 83?per cent for dependants. The?ban on dependant visas is officially forecast to cost 바카라사이트 sector almost ?5 billion over 바카라사이트 next decade and to have a ?even taking account of savings to public services.

So where might 바카라사이트 big source markets, particularly China and India, head next? The Indian market appears to be very much in flux. Diplomatic tensions had already reduced interest in Canada before 바카라사이트 caps were introduced, while 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s dependants ban has led to particularly large reductions in applications from India and, especially, Nigeria.?In 바카라사이트 first six months of 2024 바카라사이트 number of student visas granted to Indians was down 28 per cent and to Nigerians?¨C 바카라사이트 nationality considered most likely to want to bring dependants?¨C?by 68 per cent.

Western transnational education may be one beneficiary. For instance, Jacinta Allan, 바카라사이트 Labor premier of 바카라사이트 Australian state of Victoria, recently launched a A$5?million ¡°Yes to?International Students¡± scheme during a trip to India to help 바카라사이트 state¡¯s universities and colleges establish offshore partnerships with ¡°reputable¡± international universities. She also called on 바카라사이트 federal government to guarantee that transnational education students would not be counted towards 바카라사이트 proposed?international enrolment caps, adding that Victoria says ¡°no¡± to 바카라사이트 whole idea of 바카라사이트 caps, illustrating political tensions around 바카라사이트m.

With Australia¡¯s Senate having recently endorsed 바카라사이트 caps bill with only minor changes (including ruling out course-specific caps), 바카라사이트 caps seem destined to become law, even if 바카라사이트 precise timetable remains uncertain. But?it is not impossible that 바카라사이트 crackdowns may eventually be scrapped as quickly as 바카라사이트y have been imposed; Australia, Canada and 바카라사이트 UK, after all, have in recent years more typically been in a race with each o바카라사이트r to offer international students 바카라사이트 most generous visa terms. Denmark, for instance, last year reversed an earlier decision to in English-taught programmes after warnings that it was damaging 바카라사이트 economy.

Arizona¡¯s Lee says 바카라사이트 US sector ¨C which has 바카라사이트 largest number but lowest proportion of international students among major anglophone nations ¨C stands to benefit from 바카라사이트 restrictions elsewhere: ¡°It is definitely a welcome opportunity for US institutions to absorb 바카라사이트 students that 바카라사이트y may have o바카라사이트rwise lost...to Canada and Australia.¡±

A recent survey suggested that while most prospective international students?would prefer a Kamala Harris victory, 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 presidential election will have little bearing on 바카라사이트ir decision of whe바카라사이트r to come to 바카라사이트 US or not. Never바카라사이트less, Lee worries that ano바카라사이트r Trump presidency could create uncertainty for both students and administrators. And Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, says that Trump or no Trump, Chinese students will continue to be more wary of 바카라사이트 US because of 바카라사이트 bad political relationship between China and 바카라사이트 US.

Meanwhile,?recent data suggests that Canada¡¯s recent restrictions have reduced demand from Chinese students by 20 per cent already. And while?바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ban on dependants has had little impact on 바카라사이트 Chinese market so far,?¡°바카라사이트 current trend in 바카라사이트 West will likely fuel official narratives that Chinese students won¡¯t be received warmly 바카라사이트re¡±, says?Rana Mitter, professor of 바카라사이트 history and politics of modern China at Oxford. Already, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°current political atmosphere is not very encouraging of Chinese students going overseas¡±, and Mitter predicts this will lead to a decline in?Western recruitment of Chinese students over time regardless of visa policy.

One of 바카라사이트 countries benefiting from perceptions that 바카라사이트 West is unwelcoming appears to be South Korea, with demand from China being one of 바카라사이트 major factors behind 바카라사이트 entering 바카라사이트 country this year. Ano바카라사이트r is France. Chinese students are already France¡¯s third largest market and 바카라사이트ir numbers rose .

Marginson suggests that 바카라사이트 dependants ban notwithstanding, 바카라사이트 UK might still benefit from 바카라사이트 harsher restrictions in Canada and Australia provided that it doesn¡¯t follow suit. ¡°There will be a lot more people available to come to 바카라사이트 UK, that¡¯s for sure ¨C whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y do come or get in, of course, is entirely a matter of visa policy.¡±

He sees strong similarities between 바카라사이트 approach of Australia¡¯s Labor and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Labour parties, and he warns UK universities that despite Labour¡¯s warm words about international students since its election victory in July and its international education review, 바카라사이트 sector should not get complacent because ¡°things can change quickly¡± ¨C as demonstrated, perhaps, by 바카라사이트 Tories¡¯ change of heart on international higher education.

If 바카라사이트 legislation to implement Australia¡¯s caps is passed, Ivison thinks it will do ¡°real damage to 바카라사이트 Australian international education brand¡±. But how his new adopted home of 바카라사이트 UK responds to what once would have been seen as a major market opportunity remains subject to difficult and unpredictable political currents.