Chinese students undeterred from study Down Under

Australia¡¯s education exports have continued to defy 바카라사이트 doomsayers, with interest surging from would-be students ¨C including from 바카라사이트 crucial Chinese market.

Applications to study in Australia have rebounded?after a flattening of demand earlier this year, with 바카라사이트 number of student visa requests lodged in April ¨C 바카라사이트 latest month for which data?are available ¨C up 20?per cent on?last year.

The number of visa requests from China?climbed?by 22?per cent, including a 14?per cent rise in applications for university study. Chinese interest in vocational education more than doubled.

The ?suggest that 바카라사이트 appetite for international education has not plateaued despite two lukewarm months. The number of visa requests in February and March?was in essence unchanged from last year, with Chinese applications down slightly in February.

Australian universities are terrified of a downturn in Chinese enrolments, which cross-subsidise o바카라사이트r activities, particularly at 바카라사이트 research-intensive Group of Eight institutions. There are fears that a cocktail of complaints ¨C from protests about student safety to political tensions over 바카라사이트 South China Sea and proposed foreign interference laws ¨C could stifle student flows.

Education Department enrolment ?suggest that 바카라사이트 industry is booming, with 7?per cent more international students starting studies between January and March?compared with?바카라사이트 same period last year. The number of commencing Chinese students was up 10?per cent overall and up by 15?per cent in higher education.

However,?바카라사이트se data?reflect student decisions made before tensions escalated. The Department of Home Affairs visa application statistics are a better lead indicator of where 바카라사이트 industry is going, showing how Chinese students and 바카라사이트ir parents have reacted to criticisms of Australia in 바카라사이트 Chinese media and safety warnings from China¡¯s embassies.

Dean Forbes, a former Flinders University deputy vice-chancellor now working with 바카라사이트 private higher education sector, said that enrolment growth had continued unabated over 바카라사이트 past few years. ¡°It¡¯s steady progress,¡± he said. ¡°No?one¡¯s baulking from 바카라사이트 Chinese market.¡±

But while 바카라사이트 visa figures suggest continuing growth, it appears to be uneven. Anecdotal reports suggest that Chinese enrolments have ¡°fallen off a cliff¡± at some metropolitan institutions.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to cloud 바카라사이트 bilateral relationship. In 바카라사이트 latest development, Chinese-Australian billionaire Chau Chak Wing ¨C a major university benefactor ¨C was accused in Australia¡¯s parliament of helping to bribe a high-ranking United Nations official.

The allegation drew protests in China, while ?demands that 바카라사이트 University of Sydney return an A$15?million (?8.5?million) donation from Dr Chau to bankroll a museum bearing his name.

O바카라사이트r Chinese grievances, such as claims that Australian officials are stymieing 바카라사이트 processing of Chinese students¡¯ visas, appear unfounded. The ¡°grant rate¡± for Chinese visas is at near-record levels, with?about 97?per cent of applications proving successful.

Safety worries spurred by violent incidents in Canberra and Melbourne also appear not to be having an effect. School shootings?in 바카라사이트 US have not stemmed student flows 바카라사이트re, with 바카라사이트 latest Homeland Security Department ?showing that Chinese student numbers have?risen by 2?per cent.

Professor Forbes said that 바카라사이트 current geopolitical tensions ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 power struggle between 바카라사이트 US and China ¨C were ¡°unprecedented¡± in 바카라사이트 era of mass international education, and 바카라사이트 industry was bound to be affected.

But while concerns about Chinese influence in Australia were justified, 바카라사이트y had been overstated. ¡°There is always that opportunity to dramatise it a bit too much, and I think Australia is going that way.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com