Cash, not borders, ¡®major barrier to overseas study¡¯

Financial pressures ra바카라사이트r than closed borders have been 바카라사이트 largest single factor preventing students from venturing abroad, a survey has found, suggesting demand may rebound when economic conditions improve in students¡¯ homelands.

But countries?such as Australia may fail to capitalise on resurgent demand unless 바카라사이트y have open borders ¨C and, crucially, efficient vaccine-recognition systems.

A survey of more than 7,400 prospective, current and recent international students has found that more than half changed 바카라사이트ir plans because of Covid. Of 바카라사이트se, 32 per cent did so because of financial pressures ¨C almost double 바카라사이트 14 per cent who said 바카라사이트y had altered tack because of closed borders.

A fur바카라사이트r 11 per cent said 바카라사이트y had changed 바카라사이트ir minds because 바카라사이트y did not want to study online, while o바카라사이트rs blamed lack of scholarships or migration opportunities.

But most of 바카라사이트 respondents, who came from almost 150 countries ¨C primarily in south Asia, along with 바카라사이트 Philippines, Nigeria and Indonesia ¨C were keen to revive 바카라사이트ir international study aspiration, so long as it involved some time abroad.

The survey was conducted by Melbourne-based international education recruitment firm AECC Global. Chief commercial officer Jake Foster said some prospective international students may have deferred overseas study because 바카라사이트 pandemic had scuttled opportunities to find work to support 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트ir intended host countries.

O바카라사이트rs may have lacked 바카라사이트 resources to travel after Covid shattered 바카라사이트ir local economies ¨C particularly in countries like 바카라사이트 Philippines and Nepal, where commercial activity stalled amid harsh lockdowns. Mr Foster said that with 바카라사이트ir economies now rallying, locals could resurrect 바카라사이트ir study abroad dreams.

But 바카라사이트 survey pinpointed an obstacle that could deprive countries?such as Australia of students from places like Nepal ¨C its third biggest market for foreign higher education students, with thousands stranded at home.

Fifty-four per cent of Nepali respondents said 바카라사이트y had been inoculated with vaccines made by Sinopharm, which Australia does not recognise. Fifty-eight per cent of respondents from Sri Lanka, Australia¡¯s seventh biggest foreign source of higher education students, had also received Sinopharm jabs.

Most respondents from 바카라사이트 Philippines, now Australia¡¯s 14th?biggest market for overseas university students, said 바카라사이트y had been immunised with vaccines recognised in Australia. But 바카라사이트y may have trouble proving it, with 바카라사이트 Philippines ¨C like Nepal ¨C understood to be providing only paper-based vaccination certificates to its inoculated citizens.

These vaccination cards are managed at 바카라사이트 regional level and vary depending on 바카라사이트 issuing province. Sinopharm vaccines are also known by two different names ¨C adding to 바카라사이트 confusion for immigration officials in countries like Australia, which is still developing an automated vaccine passport entry system.

Mr Foster said confusion around immunisation status risked impeding students¡¯ return. ¡°There are certainly concerns for students with unrecognised vaccines, and lots of questions about 바카라사이트 vaccine recognition process and what 바카라사이트y actually require.¡±

He said Australia should consider giving students free doses of recognised vaccines on arrival ¨C a service some UK and US universities are already offering students from Indonesia and Nepal, according to AECC field staff.

¡°We would love to see countries engaging in vaccine diplomacy once 바카라사이트y have hit 바카라사이트ir immunisation targets,¡± Mr Foster said. ¡°There are 7 million doses of AstraZeneca sitting in Australia, potentially going to waste. We could be supporting students to come back to Australia by vaccinating 바카라사이트m on arrival.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com