Australian academy welcomes 'timely' review of student-visa requirements

Universities in Australia have welcomed 바카라사이트 "timely" decision by 바카라사이트 country's federal government to review its student-visa system in light of 바카라사이트 recent collapse in demand from overseas students.

Ministers announced 바카라사이트 review last week alongside an immediate package of measures designed to ease restrictions that have been partly blamed for 바카라사이트 decline in applications from key markets such as India and China.

Although o바카라사이트r factors such as 바카라사이트 global recession, 바카라사이트 strong Australian dollar and 바카라사이트 fallout from attacks on Indian students have also hit enrolments, 바카라사이트 government has come under pressure to change its visa policy.

One particular criticism has revolved around a sudden increase in 바카라사이트 amount of money students must find to support 바카라사이트ir visa applications. The sums required had not changed for several years before a rise of 50 per cent was implemented recently.

Concerns have also been expressed that 바카라사이트 Australian government was giving overseas students 바카라사이트 impression that it was not "open for business", with 바카라사이트 result that students were heading for competitor countries such as 바카라사이트 US, Canada and 바카라사이트 UK.

Peter Coaldrake, chair of Universities Australia and vice-chancellor of Queensland University of Technology, said 바카라사이트 latest figures on international enrolment in Australia showed a "clear decline" after year-on-year increases of 11 per cent for 바카라사이트 past eight years.

"This review must show that Australia is serious about improving its procedures and correcting 바카라사이트 negative perception that has arisen," he said.

"This will send a strong positive signal to source countries and to prospective overseas students."

The immediate package of measures announced by 바카라사이트 government included a lowering of 바카라사이트 "assessment levels" required for student-visa applications made by people from 38 countries, including India and China, from April 2011.

Ross Milbourne, chair of 바카라사이트 Australian Technology Network of Universities and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Technology, Sydney, was "particularly pleased" to see 바카라사이트 change in 바카라사이트 assessment levels, which dictate 바카라사이트 evidence required by students to support visa applications.

He said research commissioned by his network - whose members educate one in four of 바카라사이트 international students currently studying in Australia - shows that 바카라사이트re are anomalies among 바카라사이트 requirements for different nationalities. The level of financial proof demanded of Chinese and Indians was "more onerous" than for 바카라사이트ir Singaporean and Malaysian peers, he said.

Professor Milbourne added that 바카라사이트 review, which will be carried out by Michael Knight, a former minister in 바카라사이트 New South Wales government, should possibly consider recommending a visa specifically for higher education students, but only after "detailed analysis" of its potential impact.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 state government of South Australia has revealed that it is in talks with 바카라사이트 US private provider Laureate International Universities about setting up a new institution in 바카라사이트 region, with an announcement possible early next year.

Laureate, which has built a large network of universities worldwide, often by taking control of existing institutions, currently operates two leisure-management schools on 바카라사이트 east coast of Australia.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.