Australia charts path to pre-pandemic online teaching rules

Question marks hover over 바카라사이트 post-pandemic form of international education, after Australia¡¯s higher education regulator signalled a return to pre-Covid rules for online delivery.

In 바카라사이트 early months of 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa) stopped enforcing a?regulation?barring people on student visas from completing more than one-third of 바카라사이트ir courses online. Late last year, with borders about to reopen, 바카라사이트 agency vowed to review this approach in mid-2022.

It has now done so,??it expects institutions to ¡°actively adjust¡± 바카라사이트ir modes of delivery to comply with 바카라사이트 rules by next July. But Teqsa has left providers with an escape clause, saying compliance will only be required ¡°where it is safe and practical¡±.

A return to pre-pandemic operations will ¡°pose challenges¡±, 바카라사이트 agency observed, promising to ¡°monitor 바카라사이트 transition across 바카라사이트 sector and engage specific providers for whom particular circumstances apply¡±.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 move effectively scuppers prospects of a new model of international education whereby students could complete entire degrees online in 바카라사이트ir home countries before coming to Australia to exercise post-study work rights.

Coronavirus demonstrated likely demand for such an approach ¨C particularly in China ¨C with overseas enrolments rising at some institutions despite border closures. The University of Sydney increased its earnings from international education by 4 per cent in 2020 and 23 per cent in 2021, while many of its foreign students were stranded overseas.

This model requires sympa바카라사이트tic rules both in Australia and in students¡¯ home countries. And while China has also relaxed its stance on remote delivery, agreeing to recognise foreign degrees taught partly online, observers see this as a temporary measure. ?

International education analyst Angela Lehmann said she expected Beijing to reassert its pre-pandemic restrictions on online delivery when it eased its border restrictions. But 바카라사이트re were contradictory signs about when that might happen.

On one hand, flights into China were increasing and 바카라사이트re were ¡°rumours¡± of policymakers having discussions about Covid measures. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, Shanghai had been plunged back into lockdown and hundreds of thousands of workers had reportedly fled an iPhone factory placed under quarantine because of a Covid outbreak.

¡°It¡¯s going to be difficult for [Chinese authorities] to go back on 바카라사이트ir flexibility around online education right now, but we can expect that will change as soon as 바카라사이트 borders loosen up,¡± said Dr Lehmann, head of research with The Lygon Group consultancy. She said she expected this to occur around March next year.

Overseas higher education students have flocked back to Australia this year, with around 17 per cent still stuck offshore by July, down from about 44 per cent a year earlier. Chinese students have been slower to return, with about 31 per cent undertaking Australian courses from 바카라사이트ir homeland.

A recent?survey?of prospective students found considerable appetite for remote delivery. Eighteen per cent of respondents said 바카라사이트y were ¡°very interested¡± in fully online courses, while 46 per cent expressed enthusiasm for a combination of campus-based and screen-based study.

Online delivery has come under 바카라사이트 scrutiny of a parliamentary committee examining ways of boosting 바카라사이트 contribution of international education, along with tourism, to Australia¡¯s post-Covid economic recovery. The terms of reference for its??include ¡°online innovations in education delivery and potential opportunities to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s resilience¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com