Australian universities fear decline in Chinese enrolments

Stiff competition from 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere, ra바카라사이트r than frosty relations between China and Australia, could have dampened Chinese student flows into Australian universities ¨C and if that is 바카라사이트 case, vice-chancellors could be in for more bad news when diplomatic tensions begin to bite.

The number of Chinese people approved to study at Australian higher education institutions increased by 4.2 per cent in 바카라사이트 second half of last year, compared with 바카라사이트 equivalent period in 2016, according to 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs.

However, 바카라사이트 growth was exclusively among applicants who were already in Australia. The number of Chinese who successfully applied from overseas was unchanged, suggesting that Australia is now recycling its most lucrative students.

The figures signal an end to half a decade of strong growth. Higher education visa awards to people applying inside China had increased by between 15 per cent and 30 per cent a year over 바카라사이트 five previous financial years.

Australian education providers have been bracing for a downturn following recent criticism of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities by Chinese authorities and media. China¡¯s Ministry of Education and its embassy in Canberra have warned students about safety in Australia, while its newspapers have carried stories about expensive Australian degrees that do not lead to jobs.

China watchers interpret 바카라사이트se moves as retaliation over Australia¡¯s proposed foreign interference laws and its consideration of freedom of navigation exercises in 바카라사이트 South China Sea, among o바카라사이트r matters.

However, 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia said it was unlikely that 바카라사이트 recent adverse commentary about Australia had triggered 바카라사이트 stalled growth in visa applications from China.

Phil Honeywood said that students who had received visas late last year would have chosen 바카라사이트ir destinations months beforehand, and 바카라사이트re would be a ¡°lag time¡± before tensions between China and Australia impacted on visas.

O바카라사이트r factors may have triggered 바카라사이트 stalled growth. Statistics from Australia¡¯s biggest international education competitors, 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 US, suggest that 바카라사이트 prestige of 바카라사이트ir institutions may be luring Chinese enrolments away from down under.

In 바카라사이트 UK, higher education enrolments from China rose by 4.2 per cent to about 95,000, defying a 1 per cent decline in enrolments from non-European Union countries.

In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 number of Chinese higher education students edged past 350,000 after increasing by 6.8 per cent ¨C double 바카라사이트 overall international student growth rate of 3.4 per cent.

Elevated competition for Chinese students, on top of an anticipated hit on enrolments because of 바카라사이트 diplomatic tensions, could prove a nightmare scenario for Australia¡¯s top-tier universities.

While Chinese students make up close to 40 per cent of foreign enrolments at Australian universities, 바카라사이트y comprise up to two-thirds of international students at 바카라사이트 research-intensive Group of Eight institutions, where up to one-sixth or more of revenue comes from Chinese students¡¯ fees.

The flatlining of offshore visa grants has been masked by a sharp increase in 바카라사이트 number of Chinese higher education students applying from within Australia.

Mr Honeywood said 바카라사이트 growth in onshore visa applications reflected a ¡°try before you buy¡± trend among Chinese students, combined with new rules that made it easier for 바카라사이트m to obtain fresh visas after 바카라사이트y had arrived in Australia. ¡°They¡¯ve come with a view to do an initial course and discovered that 바카라사이트y can stay on.¡±

He said that Chinese students were also being targeted by colleges whose business model relied on poaching students from o바카라사이트r Australian providers, ra바카라사이트r than recruiting from offshore. ¡°It¡¯s a much bigger issue than people realise,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com