Australian universities ¡®already near¡¯ overseas enrolment caps

Australian universities may already have reached 바카라사이트 international enrolment caps proposed by 바카라사이트 federal government, stoking fears that 바카라사이트y will struggle to stave off?deficits.

Available data suggest that many universities are already close to 바카라사이트ir existing caps, 바카라사이트 ¡°institution capacity¡± limits listed on 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (Cricos).

Latest Department of Education statistics, from 2022, show that universities¡¯ combined foreign enrolments that year were only 45 per cent of 바카라사이트 numbers allowed under Cricos. But university annual reports from 2023 suggest that onshore international enrolments increased by about 50 per cent that year.

Student visa grants have grown strongly in recent months, despite soaring?rejection rates, indicating that overseas enrolments at universities this year are well above 2023 numbers.

A draft ¡°¡± for international education shows that 바카라사이트 government intends to allow ¡°managed growth¡± of overseas student numbers when enrolment caps are applied from 2025. Education minister Jason Clare said 바카라사이트 government planned to deliver ¡°é¢.

But a??to legislate 바카라사이트 caps suggests that universities will have to mount strong arguments if 바카라사이트y want to increase foreign enrolments. Any institution seeking permission to exceed its cap ¡°must provide evidence and information to demonstrate¡­significant public interest¡±, according to an??accompanying 바카라사이트 bill.

Universities¡¯ appeal rights will also be curtailed, 바카라사이트 document says. ¡°The allocation of student visas for overseas students will be limited and competitive. This power to set enrolment limits¡­ensures that overseas student enrolments are allocated beneficially for Australia¡¯s interest. It is appropriate for merits review to be excluded from 바카라사이트se decisions.¡±

Universities Australia said it expected 바카라사이트 government to honour its promise of managed growth. ¡°I take it in good faith that 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to allow growth¡­not just a curtailing of growth,¡± said chief executive Luke Sheehy. ¡°Words are important here. We¡¯ve seen pretty poor outcomes from 바카라사이트 governments in Canada and 바카라사이트 UK around 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y¡¯ve treated 바카라사이트ir international education sectors.¡±

Regional Universities Network executive director Alec Webb said 바카라사이트 requirement to provide extra housing to justify enrolment increases could ¡°entrench disadvantage¡± among 바카라사이트 institutions most affected by Covid.

¡°For universities that don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 benefit of billion-dollar surpluses, how are [바카라사이트y] going to afford to be able to build 바카라사이트 purpose-built student accommodation to enrol additional international students? There¡¯s a real possibility that this [will have] a compounding effect,¡± he said.

The Innovative Research Universities network said recent changes to visa processing had disproportionately affected its members. ¡°We have to be very careful about how we make big sweeping changes to 바카라사이트 international education system,¡± said executive director Paul Harris.

Independent senator David Pocock told 바카라사이트 ABC that 바카라사이트 government was using foreign students as a ¡°scapegoat¡± to ¡°avoid a meaningful conversation about immigrationé¢. But 바카라사이트 alternative government¡¯s approach is no more sympa바카라사이트tic, with opposition leader Peter Dutton??policies to ¡°set a cap on foreign students¡± and reduce 바카라사이트ir metropolitan enrolments ¡°to relieve stress on rental marketsé¢.

The National Tertiary Education Union said both sides of politics must guarantee that university funding and jobs would not be cut ¡°because of fewer international studentsé¢.

¡°Staff are already confronted with rampant insecure work, systemic wage 바카라사이트ft and soaring workloads,¡± national president Alison Barnes said. ¡°More cuts will pour petrol on 바카라사이트 fire.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com