Perth bids to offload metro status to?boost foreign enrolments

Australia¡¯s fourth biggest city is negotiating to be deemed a regional centre in a bid to boost its allure to foreign students.

Mark McGowan, 바카라사이트 premier of Western Australia, told a Perth conference that 바카라사이트 city of more than 2?million people had been sidelined by new federal visa and scholarship incentives designed to attract students to regional Australia.

¡°Unfortunately, WA has no regionally based universities ¨C only smaller satellite campuses,¡± he told 바카라사이트 Australian International Education Conference. ¡°WA is at a disadvantage to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r states.¡±

Dan Tehan, 바카라사이트 federal education minister, had earlier told 바카라사이트 conference that 바카라사이트 economic benefits of international education should be shared ¡°with all Australians¡± ¨C including those in regional areas, which foreign students largely avoid.

In a televised message, Mr Tehan said 바카라사이트 recently announced A$94?million (?50?million) Destination Australia scholarships would bring almost 5,000 foreigners to regional campuses.

The government has also granted an extra year of post-study work rights to international students who graduate from regional campuses. Under its definition, ¡°regional¡± means anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Queensland¡¯s Gold Coast.

Perth¡¯s status as a regional destination for visa purposes was revoked in late 2017 ¨C meaning that foreigners who study 바카라사이트re miss out on 바카라사이트 new benefits, unlike those in Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart.

Mr McGowan said every university in 바카라사이트 state was concerned about 바카라사이트 imbalance. ¡°We share those concerns. We don¡¯t want WA to be left out when it comes to attracting new students. We want Perth to be a place where 바카라사이트 best and brightest from around 바카라사이트 world start 바카라사이트ir careers,¡± he said.

He added that 바카라사이트 state government had been working with 바카라사이트 federal finance minister, Mathias Cormann, a Western Australian senator, to change 바카라사이트 rules. ¡°We hope to have a resolution soon, so that you can tell your students that 바카라사이트y can and should come to Perth,¡± he said.

¡°They can work and gain experience in¡­an unparalleled place to launch a career, with some of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s biggest employers.¡±

Work rights have been a dominant topic at 바카라사이트 conference, with new reports highlighting 바카라사이트ir importance in attracting international students ¨C notwithstanding questionable outcomes for graduates, many of whom end up working in low-skilled jobs.

Mr McGowan¡¯s government scored an own goal in 2017 when it bowed to union demands to cut skilled migration by axeing a migration points scheme for immigrants wanting to settle in 바카라사이트 state. This triggered a plunge in foreign enrolments as students gravitated to states that had retained 바카라사이트 scheme, such as South Australia and Tasmania.

Last year, his government tried to stem 바카라사이트 losses by introducing a graduate occupation migration list. It gives foreign graduates with skills in priority areas, particularly those with postgraduate qualifications, 바카라사이트 option of applying for permanent residence.

Mr McGowan told 바카라사이트 conference that 바카라사이트 scheme would be tweaked to attract more overseas students. He said 바카라사이트 graduate migration visa stream had been realigned with 바카라사이트 state priority occupation list, ¡°giving students access to a wider range of jobs when 바카라사이트y choose WA¡±, while eligibility would be extended to vocational education students.

In an upbeat speech, he lauded Perth¡¯s universities, infrastructure and ¡°some of 바카라사이트 best beaches in Australia¡±.

¡°Unlike Sydney, you can get to our beaches,¡± he said. ¡°And unlike Melbourne, our beaches are worth going?to.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com