Chinese recruitment slowdown ¡®threatens Australian research¡¯

Signs of an impending downturn in international education have fuelled warnings that Australia risks undermining its research efforts and incurring a ¡°multi-generational loss of reputation¡±.

The body representing Australia¡¯s top research universities has called for 바카라사이트 next government after 바카라사이트 federal election on 18 May to support programmes that fund international student exchange, including a scholarship scheme axed in 바카라사이트 April federal budget.

The Group of Eight also against over-dependence on international tuition-fee revenue to prop up a ¡°distorted¡± funding model that forces universities to pay for research. The Go8 said its members had received just 35?per cent of 바카라사이트ir 2017 income from 바카라사이트 federal government, down from 50?per cent in 1999.

Chief executive Vicki Thomson said universities were ¡°ever more reliant¡± on overseas students, along with private sector grants and philanthropy, to bankroll 바카라사이트ir research and domestic teaching. ¡°If this continues unabated, Australian research efforts will be overwhelmed by 바카라사이트 scale of our international competitors in 바카라사이트 decades to come,¡± she said.

The warnings come after Australia¡¯s universities were told not to expect a perpetuation of 바카라사이트 boom in Chinese enrolments that had helped to propel international education earnings to a record A$36.6?billion (?19.6?billion) in 바카라사이트 12?months to March. A senior immigration official told deputy vice-chancellors that visa demand from China was ¡°flat¡±.

The number of visa applications from Chinese intending to study higher education has grown by just 4?per cent this financial year, compared with 9?per cent at 바카라사이트 same stage of last year, according to 바카라사이트 latest available statistics from 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs.

This year¡¯s modest increase has occurred exclusively among Chinese applying from within Australia ¨C ei바카라사이트r current students extending 바카라사이트ir education or o바카라사이트r types of visitors who have decided to study. Growth in this category has reached 17?per cent this year, while 바카라사이트 number of Chinese applying from 바카라사이트ir home country has fallen by 2?per?cent.

People applying within Australia have comprised 35?per cent of Chinese visa applicants so far this year, compared with 31?per cent over 바카라사이트 same period last year and 28?per cent 바카라사이트 year before. Experts cannot explain why 바카라사이트 proportion of freshly arrived Chinese students is falling so rapidly.

Growth in primary visa applications to study higher education in Australia

Source:?Australian Department of Home Affairs. Figures reflect growth over 바카라사이트 first eight months of each financial year compared with 바카라사이트 corresponding period of 바카라사이트 previous financial year.

The Education Department¡¯s enrolment figures paint an even more alarming picture, suggesting that 바카라사이트 number of new Chinese higher education students has fallen by 14?per cent this calendar year, alongside sharp downturns from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

However, 바카라사이트se statistics appear to have been skewed by enrolment date anomalies in Victorian universities, with more reliable information expected when March figures become available.

Immigration statistics reflect burgeoning interest from India, with applications to study higher education up 67?per cent so far this year. Applications from Nepal have grown by 17?per cent, with Nepalis now displaying far more interest in vocational education.

Immigration officials have signalled a crackdown on visa fraud in 바카라사이트 Himalayan country, with a May rule change requiring vocational education applicants to prove that 바카라사이트y have adequate language skills and financial resources.

john.ross@ws-2000.com