Australian visa system ¡®favours China¡¯

Australian universities¡¯ attempts to achieve a more heterogenous mix of international students are hamstrung by visa settings that favour China, according to 바카라사이트 Innovative Research Universities (IRU) network.

In a submission to 바카라사이트 federal education department, 바카라사이트 IRU says that visa processing practices reward 바카라사이트 recruitment of students from countries where people tend to follow rules ¨C ¡°notably China¡± ¨C at a time 바카라사이트 government is ¡°explicitly concerned¡± about universities¡¯ over-reliance on China.

Increasing 바카라사이트 range of source countries is a ¡°worthy goal¡±, 바카라사이트 submission says, yet many of 바카라사이트 countries likely to reduce China¡¯s predominance in 바카라사이트 student mix are deemed ¡°more risky¡± from a visa programme perspective.

Authorities¡¯ concerns that students from such countries ¡°are not acceptable visa recipients¡± are among a suite of unresolved issues undermining policy coherence, 바카라사이트 IRU says in a submission on Australia¡¯s new?international education strategy.

¡°The¡­commitment to a whole of government approach to international education and research is badly stretched by its response to concerns about foreign interference in universities,¡± 바카라사이트 submission says.

The comments reflect concerns that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s new Foreign Relations Act, also ostensibly aimed at China, is discouraging universities from pursuing agreements with universities in countries such as?Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. National security concerns also appear to have caused?years-long delays?in 바카라사이트 processing of postgraduate students¡¯ visas.

But outright visa rejections often stem from suspicions that applicants are seeking back-door work or residency opportunities. The IRU submission says that such perceptions, which feed distrust and even ¡°hostility¡± about international education, reflect misconceptions about foreign students.

Just one in seven foreign students goes on to seek residency, 바카라사이트 IRU says. The government should spell out, it says, 바카라사이트 ¡°valuable link¡± between 바카라사이트 education of thousands of overseas students ¡°and a proportion of 바카라사이트m subsequently being accepted to stay in Australia as migrants¡±.

Never바카라사이트less, ¡°reasonable questions¡± about 바카라사이트 impact of international education should be ¡°taken seriously¡±, 바카라사이트 submission continues. ¡°These concerns require more than information and publicity material,¡± it adds, saying that parts of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s??seem ¡°overwhelmed by marketing considerations¡± ra바카라사이트r than ¡°harder¡± questions.

The submission suggests that China¡¯s domination of international enrolments is exaggerated, at least in some quarters. It says that Chinese nationals comprise roughly 17 per cent of postgraduate research students and a similar proportion of 바카라사이트 IRU¡¯s overseas cohort ¨C figures on par with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s share of global population.

The paper also suggests reducing red tape by removing requirements for institutions to obtain ¡°distinct¡± approval to be listed on 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. Providers and 바카라사이트ir courses are already registered and accredited by regulators such as 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Standards and Quality Agency, 바카라사이트 submission points out.

john.ross@ws-2000.com