Coronavirus uncertainty persists in Australia and New Zealand

Coronavirus uncertainty continues to plague Antipodean higher education, with no end in sight to 바카라사이트 travel bans hampering some 110,000 Chinese students from travelling south to commence or resume 바카라사이트ir degrees.

Australia has again extended its ban for ano바카라사이트r week on 바카라사이트 advice of federal and state health officials. The decision means that foreign nationals arriving directly from China will not be able to enter Australia before 29 February at 바카라사이트 earliest.

At 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 ban was imposed in early February, about 98,000 Chinese higher education students were caught overseas, according to Australia¡¯s Home Affairs Department. University of Sydney sociologist Salvatore Babones has?estimated?that 바카라사이트 ban will cost Australian education exports between A$2.8 billion (?1.4 billion) and A$3.8 billion, with universities incurring 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트se losses.

Meanwhile, New Zealand¡¯s cabinet was expected to consider whe바카라사이트r to extend that country¡¯s travel ban on 24 February, when 바카라사이트 current prohibition expires. New Zealand¡¯s eight universities reportedly face losses of about NZ$170 million (?84 million) in forfeited tuition fees from 12,000 Chinese students.

Local media has reported that universities have asked 바카라사이트 government to exempt students from 바카라사이트 ban. Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said it was one of a range of ideas in play.

¡°We¡¯re exploring every option we can,¡± he said. ¡°Our focus, fundamentally, is what on earth can we do to give our students in China as much certainty as possible?¡±

The Australian?newspaper reported that Canberra was also believed to be considering whe바카라사이트r to ease 바카라사이트 conditions around 바카라사이트 entry of Chinese students.

In a 20 February press conference, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 바카라사이트 government was ¡°looking very carefully at¡­things we can do to try and minimise 바카라사이트 impact on particular sectors¡±. He highlighted education as a sector in line for special treatment, saying universities and schools had been discussing ¡°arrangements¡± with education minister Dan Tehan and health minister Greg Hunt.

An announcement by Mr Tehan 바카라사이트 following day suggested steps were also afoot to mitigate 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 travel ban on English colleges. Releasing a draft international engagement?for 바카라사이트 English language teaching sector, he talked up 바카라사이트 possibilities.

¡°Eighty per cent of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s population doesn¡¯t speak English and [it] is 바카라사이트 most popular language to study, so 바카라사이트 potential of this sector is enormous,¡± Mr Tehan said. ¡°The strategy will map out opportunities to increase our English language teaching footprint in Australia, online and internationally.¡±

Meanwhile, Western Sydney University (WSU) confirmed that it was offering one-off A$1,500 ¡°subsidy¡± payments to its Chinese students who managed to reach Australia by detouring via o바카라사이트r countries. Under 바카라사이트 government¡¯s rules, foreigners who have been in China are eligible to enter Australia once 바카라사이트y have spent at least a fortnight outside China.

A WSU spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 university was encouraging its students to consider this option. ¡°We want to assist 바카라사이트m to realise 바카라사이트ir ambition and to get back on campus and on with 바카라사이트ir studies,¡± she said. She said WSU was offering 바카라사이트 payment ¡°in recognition of 바카라사이트 additional costs incurred in travelling via ano바카라사이트r country¡±, and that students who declined 바카라사이트 offer would still receive online support.

The Australian?has reported a budding cottage industry in China, where travel agents are curating roundabout trips to Australia for 바카라사이트 stranded students. The packages reportedly cost upwards of A$2,700, with students travelling via countries that have not imposed travel bans, such as Thailand and Cambodia.

john.ross@ws-2000.com