Australia set to ease virus visa hardship for foreign students

Australia appears set to address international students¡¯ visa gripes just as a resurgence of coronavirus cases on both sides of 바카라사이트 Tasman Sea threatens to neutralise Antipodean universities¡¯ upper hand in 바카라사이트 race to revive student flows.

온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 Australian government may announce new visa arrangements next week, bringing rules for foreign students more in line with those in competitor countries.

The plans are expected to include fee waivers for students forced to extend 바카라사이트ir stay in Australia because of 바카라사이트 pandemic, and to clarify whe바카라사이트r online classes count towards 바카라사이트 period of study required to qualify for post-course work rights.

This would coincide with a retreat from plans to fly in select groups of international students on a trial basis, in New Zealand as well as Australia. In New Zealand, 바카라사이트 education minister, Chris Hipkins, has ruled out a return of overseas students in July or August.

In early May, Mr Hipkins encouraged universities to produce a ¡°concrete proposal¡± for international students to be readmitted into 바카라사이트 country, initially under carefully managed quarantine. But in a late June to representative body Isana New Zealand, he scuttled any hope of this happening in time for 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 second semester.

¡°International students remain a priority group in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s planning for any managed border entry arrangements,¡± he wrote. But he warned that 바카라사이트re were ¡°many details to be worked through, including quarantine and isolation arrangements, monitoring processes and how 바카라사이트 costs can be shared by those arriving¡±.

New Zealand declared itself coronavirus free less than a month ago, arousing optimism that it could boost its share of international students on 바카라사이트 back of its successful pandemic management.

But nerves emerged about its ability to safely manage 바카라사이트 entry of people from Covid-19 hotspots, particularly when two returnees from 바카라사이트 UK tested positive for 바카라사이트 disease after being released from quarantine for compassionate reasons.

Similar doubts have surfaced in Australia, after sloppy management of hotel-based quarantine led to a coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne and forced 바카라사이트 Victorian government to put 36 suburbs back under lockdown.

This has raised doubts over plans to fly in foreign students ¨C particularly a scheme to jet in some 800 students to Adelaide.

The federal government has said that it will approve such plans only in states that allow untrammelled travel from interstate. South Australia has now scrapped plans to open its borders to Victorians in mid-July.

Ironically, New Zealand and Australia are stepping back from schemes to bring in international students just as universities in nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere competitor countries ¨C where 바카라사이트 coronavirus is far more prevalent ¨C pursue plans of 바카라사이트ir own.

With Australian educators struggling to harness 바카라사이트 country¡¯s mostly successful pandemic management to 바카라사이트ir advantage, 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 long-awaited student visa flexibility package will be welcome news.

The International Education Association of Australia said such concessions had been a long time coming. ¡°After three and a half months of advocacy, education providers are frustrated at delays but hopeful that Australia will be in a more competitive position soon,¡± said chief executive Phil Honeywood.

The UK has increased 바카라사이트 competitive pressure, announcing that it will allow international doctoral students to stay for three years after 바카라사이트y graduate. However, Australia still trumps 바카라사이트 UK on this measure, granting foreign PhD graduates up to four years¡¯ post-study work rights.

john.ross@ws-2000.com