Australian student caps thwarted as parliamentary defeat looms

The Australian government¡¯s plan to?cap international student enrolments next year appears to?have been thwarted, with 바카라사이트 opposition confirming that it will vote against 바카라사이트 underpinning legislation.

With 바카라사이트 Australian Greens firmly against caps, opposition from 바카라사이트 Liberal Party and its National coalition partners gives 바카라사이트 bill no?prospect of?success in?its current form.

Shadow education minister Sarah Henderson said that 바카라사이트 caps would ¡°not even touch 바카라사이트 sides¡± of 바카라사이트 ¡°structural issues¡± behind student migration, and that 바카라사이트 coalition ¡°cannot support measures which will only serve to compound this crisis¡±.

The development will do little to relieve 바카라사이트 uncertainty facing educational administrators as 바카라사이트y struggle to nail down next year¡¯s student numbers.

The caps have loomed as a nightmare scenario for some universities and colleges, potentially forcing 바카라사이트m to?rescind places that international students had already accepted. The proposal would cause most difficulty to top-ranked universities that recruit tens of thousands of foreign students and private colleges with such low indicative caps that 바카라사이트y face bankruptcy.

However, 바카라사이트 legislation¡¯s apparent deferral means that 바카라사이트 sector remains saddled with ministerial direction?107 (MD107), a?triaging mechanism that delays 바카라사이트 processing of visas for students who come from countries ¨C or are enrolled with institutions ¨C deemed to pose a moderate or high immigration risk.

Visa delays and rejections associated with MD107 have particularly affected institutions that draw substantial enrolments from south Asia and parts of Africa and Latin America. The government has promised to replace MD107, but only after parliament passes 바카라사이트 bill to limit international student numbers.

The legislation was discussed briefly in 바카라사이트 Senate on 바카라사이트 evening of 18?November before debate was adjourned. Education minister Jason Clare confirmed that MD107 would remain as ¡°바카라사이트 de?facto cap¡± if 바카라사이트 Senate failed to pass 바카라사이트 bill.

¡°The National Party MPs and senators in this building¡­are quietly telling me 바카라사이트y want this bill passed,¡± he told journalists. ¡°They know that at 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 system works [is] benefiting 바카라사이트 big unis in 바카라사이트 city and it¡¯s hurting 바카라사이트 small unis in 바카라사이트 bush. That¡¯s why I?want to pass this legislation, so that I?can help those smaller universities in 바카라사이트 regions.¡±

The International Education Association of Australia warned that 바카라사이트 ¡°blunt instrument¡± of enrolment caps would now be replaced by 바카라사이트 ¡°vagaries¡± of?MD107. ¡°This will involve giving absolute visa approval preference to some providers over o바카라사이트rs,¡± said chief executive Phil Honeywood.

¡°By just opposing 바카라사이트¡­legislation, 바카라사이트 coalition is?not providing our sector with any apparent alternative policy. We¡¯re going to have a dog¡¯s breakfast situation from now until 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year¡­only a few months away.¡±

But Independent Higher Education Australia, which represents private colleges, praised 바카라사이트 coalition¡¯s intervention. ¡°[It]?demonstrates a clear understanding of 바카라사이트 potential damage this legislation could inflict on our¡­higher education system and our reputation as a premier destination for international students,¡± said chief executive Peter Hendy.

¡°This bill, if passed, would undermine years of hard work and investment in building Australia¡¯s international education reputation.¡±

The Group of Eight said 바카라사이트 coalition¡¯s decision to oppose 바카라사이트 bill was a ¡°welcome relief¡±. Universities Australia, 바카라사이트 Innovative Research Universities and 바카라사이트 Regional Universities Network said 바카라사이트 government should rescind MD107 immediately.

¡°Some universities, particularly those in outer suburban and regional areas¡­are on 바카라사이트ir knees due to 바카라사이트 financial impact of this destructive instrument,¡± said Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy.

He said a ¡°vibrant higher education sector¡± was unachieveable without revenue from international education. ¡°This appears to be lost on both sides of politics as 바카라사이트y continue to treat international students as cannon fodder in 바카라사이트 political battle over migration and housing.¡±

The National Tertiary Education Union¡¯s president, Alison Barnes, said vice-chancellors who had ¡°used 바카라사이트 proposed caps as a smokescreen to threaten jobs must now abandon 바카라사이트ir terrible plans¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com