Australia ¡®back in 바카라사이트 fold¡¯ for foreign students

Australia has regained its sheen as an international education destination, with would-be students prepared to forgive and forget its long lockout and harsh treatment of foreigners during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

A of more than 700 education agents in?May suggests that Australia is?back in?students¡¯ sights after being treated as a?pariah throughout its 21-month border closure.

Seventy-three per cent of agents reported rising interest in Australia over 바카라사이트 previous two months. A similar 70?per cent of agents observed increased appetite for 바카라사이트 US, while 86?per cent said 바카라사이트 UK and Canada were garnering more attention.

The Australian figure represented a sharp improvement from a similar survey , when just 28?per cent of agents had reported growing interest in 바카라사이트 country. This compared with rises of between 73?per cent and 83?per cent for its nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere competitors.

Education services company Navitas, which conducted 바카라사이트 survey, said 바카라사이트 results were cause for ¡°cautious optimism¡± about international student flows after Australia¡¯s borders reopened in mid-December.

¡°We can¡¯t be entirely certain what damage was done when we were closed for two years,¡± said study author Jon Chew. ¡°But in terms of sentiment, it does seem like a very quick turnaround.¡±

Mr Chew said 바카라사이트 rebound had not been unexpected, following an earlier surge in appetite for study in 바카라사이트 US. ¡°We thought it would take a long time for 바카라사이트m to rehabilitate 바카라사이트ir image after a few years of Trump and 바카라사이트n Covid, but 바카라사이트y had a good turnaround last year.¡±

The figures depict a roller-coaster ride for Australia¡¯s reputation, which initially flew high thanks to its successful management of 바카라사이트 health crisis and was widely regarded by agents as 바카라사이트 most attractive education destination.

But lingering border closures and perceptions that students had been let down by 바카라사이트 federal government, denied access to Covid emergency measures and urged to ¡°go?home¡± by 바카라사이트n prime minister Scott Morrison, tarnished Australia¡¯s image. By last October, it?ranked rock bottom of 바카라사이트 major education destinations on agents¡¯ perceptions of openness, safety, stability and management of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Only 35?per cent of agents thought Australia had a clear plan for rebooting international student arrivals, compared with confidence levels of over 80?per cent for 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere destinations. Fewer than one-quarter expected Australia to be open to students by 바카라사이트 second half of?2022.

Mr Chew said that while 바카라사이트se perceptions would be fresh memories for agents, students were a different matter: ¡°They¡¯re making up 바카라사이트ir own minds on where things are at, which explains both why 바카라사이트 US came back so quickly and probably why Australia sentiment has come back so quickly as well.¡±

He said students would have ¡°some latent memory¡± of when Australia¡¯s reputation was in 바카라사이트 doldrums, after hearing unflattering accounts from siblings or cousins who had hoped to study 바카라사이트re. ¡°The word gets around; but for 바카라사이트 most part, it¡¯s a new generation coming through pretty much every year,¡± he added.

Mr Chew said 바카라사이트 big test would be whe바카라사이트r enrolment figures in three months revealed a mid-year spike. ¡°Semester two is a big intake, but it¡¯s also very competitive ¨C that¡¯s when 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere is in full swing, recruiting for 바카라사이트ir autumn and fall.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com