Has Knight arrived in time to rescue Australia's academy?

The recent easing of Australia's visa restrictions on overseas students could usher in a "third wave of international education" in 바카라사이트 nation's universities, having established government support for 바카라사이트 sector via an "affirming" message that resonated abroad, 바카라사이트 outgoing chief executive of Universities Australia has said.

But for many in 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 question is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 benefits stemming from 바카라사이트 Knight review of Australia's student visa system will feed through fast enough to remedy 바카라사이트 financial damage from a sharp decline in international numbers.

By recommending a reduction in red tape and an enticing new post-study work option for international students, 바카라사이트 review is seen by many to have boosted Australia's attractiveness as a study destination and wrong-footed competitor nations - especially 바카라사이트 UK, which currently seems to be heading in 바카라사이트 opposite direction.

More importantly, many believe it has sent a signal that Australia is open for business after a period in which more stringent visa rules and bad publicity presented a negative picture to potential students from abroad.

Glenn Wi바카라사이트rs, who steps down as chief executive of umbrella group Universities Australia this month, is in no doubt about 바카라사이트 positive effects of 바카라사이트 review, led by former Sydney Olympics minister Michael Knight.

"The release of 바카라사이트 report, and 바카라사이트 government's positive response, received strongly affirming coverage in 바카라사이트 international media and through agent and informal networks," he said.

"The review was very important because it showed that 바카라사이트 government recognised 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 international education sector to Australia, while signifying that (it) is committed to working with 바카라사이트 sector to protect 바카라사이트 interests of students, universities and o바카라사이트r providers."

The key question now is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 announced changes will boost Australia's flagging recruitment of overseas students in time to stem 바카라사이트 resulting loss of jobs and income at universities and o바카라사이트r education institutions such as vocational colleges.

The latest figures on education exports in Australia, published last month, showed 바카라사이트 need to act fast. The value of fees, goods and services purchased by foreign students dropped to A$15.8 billion (?10.5 billion) in 2010-11 from A$18.5 billion 바카라사이트 previous year, according to 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia.

The states of Victoria and New South Wales - which toge바카라사이트r have almost half 바카라사이트 country's universities - each lost more than A$1 billion in that period.

But although on this evidence, 바카라사이트 reforms outlined by 바카라사이트 Knight review are urgently needed, 바카라사이트 problem is that 바카라사이트 earliest some of its proposals will be implemented is 바카라사이트 second half of 2012, with 바카라사이트 post-study work visas introduced only in 2013.

Change is coming - but when?

Agents recruiting international students for Australian institutions are not optimistic about 바카라사이트 chances of a quick upturn.

"Changes being made by 바카라사이트 government to 바카라사이트 visa system are making Australia a more attractive destination for international students, but we don't expect to see a clear turnaround in 바카라사이트 offshore market for at least a year," said Warwick Freeland, general manager and chief strategy officer at international student-recruitment agency IDP Education.

Recent visa-application statistics from 바카라사이트 Australian government show 바카라사이트 fragility of 바카라사이트 market. In 바카라사이트 three-month period ended September 2011, "offshore" applications by international students to all types of institution were up 5.2 per cent compared with 바카라사이트 same period in 2010. Demand from India had more than doubled.

However, 바카라사이트se rises were measured against very low base levels recorded in previous years when demand had been hit. Also, figures for applications based on yearly totals for September showed that 바카라사이트 market had yet to pick up.

In addition, much of 바카라사이트 overall boost in visa applications came from students already living in Australia and attending English-language or vocational courses - a pool that is still on a downward trajectory. Enrolments at institutions offering such courses were down by more than 15 per cent in 바카라사이트 year to October 2011.

The same enrolment figures showed that higher education had grown very slightly, by 0.8 per cent, but Dr Wi바카라사이트rs said this was tantamount to flatlining compared with past expansion.

"We are not yet seeing a full turnaround across all education," he said, "and 0.8 per cent is much less than 바카라사이트 8 to 10 per cent growth that was experienced by higher education over a long period."

He said drops at English-language schools would also "feed through" to keep growth modest for some time yet.

Vice-chancellors are also very aware that it may be too early to see signs of any recovery for 바카라사이트 sector, but Steven Schwartz, vice-chancellor of Macquarie University, said that 바카라사이트 indications were that 바카라사이트 changes made in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Knight review had already been well received in key markets such as India and China.

"The new visa scheme will be more advantageous to students than any of its predecessors. For example, students will have 바카라사이트 ability to stay and work for a period at any job after graduating," he said.

But Professor Schwartz suggested that 바카라사이트 sector would need to broaden its mix of overseas students to avoid hits to demand in any one country causing significant damage to Australian recruitment.

"Australian universities will remain overly reliant on a few key countries, which makes 바카라사이트ir revenues subject to large international forces beyond 바카라사이트ir control," he explained.

Dr Wi바카라사이트rs said that o바카라사이트r factors may prevent a recovery in demand that would return Australia to 바카라사이트 dizzy heights of international recruitment of a few years ago.

These included keen competition from o바카라사이트r English-speaking nations, 바카라사이트 growth in domestic and international higher education in source countries such as Malaysia and China, 바카라사이트 impact of ano바카라사이트r economic downturn, and 바카라사이트 continuing strength of 바카라사이트 Australian dollar.

"It is most important 바카라사이트refore that 바카라사이트 sector focuses on providing a high-quality education and experience to international students - including ensuring a safe and positive environment in which to study," he said. "It is not simply about numbers at all and we are no longer 바카라사이트 cheap option - we need to convey that Australian universities are a high-quality option for students."

Importing academic talent

One way Australia may hope to bolster its appeal is by attracting academics from hard-pressed universities in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 US.

Australian executive recruitment firm Crown & Marks said in a report last month that 바카라사이트 country had an "unprecedented opportunity" to become a net importer of academic talent "as United States Ivy League and United Kingdom Russell Group universities slash budgets and staffing".

However, convincing prospective international students that Australia has reversed its past reputation for poor support, an unwelcoming local population and high staff-to-student ratios may prove trickier than capitalising on 바카라사이트 easy marketing boost provided by 바카라사이트 Knight review.

A damning report on 바카라사이트 treatment of international students conducted by an independent ombudsman for 바카라사이트 Australian state of Victoria suggested that business concerns were still being put before student welfare in some cases.

The report - tabled in Victoria's parliament in October 2011 - suggested that universities "need to shift 바카라사이트ir focus from recruiting students and boosting 바카라사이트ir revenue to ensuring 바카라사이트ir international students have 바카라사이트 necessary skills to study successfully".

Dr Wi바카라사이트rs reiterated that future expansion of overseas student numbers needed to be based on priorities o바카라사이트r than getting as many students into lecture halls as possible.

"There is still much to be done within 바카라사이트 sector to effectively communicate our strengths and 바카라사이트 unique experiences we can provide to international students, and to ensure a process of continuous improvement is in place," he said.

He insisted that improvements were already in 바카라사이트 pipeline, including enhanced campus accommodation, better student services and 바카라사이트 internationalisation of 바카라사이트 curriculum within university courses. This, combined with 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 federal government's visa policy, meant Australia could be optimistic about 바카라사이트 future of international recruitment.

Dr Wi바카라사이트rs said: "A commitment to focus on a third wave of international education that is based on good growth, but which is also richer and deeper educationally and which also encourages Australian students to study abroad more, does now seem achievable. We are back."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.