International education levy ¡®preferable to visa chaos¡¯

Australian universities would have been better off with an international education levy, according to one of 바카라사이트 controversial idea¡¯s proponents, than 바카라사이트 ¡°visa debacle¡± and ¡°hard cap¡± confronting 바카라사이트m now.

¡°Doesn¡¯t 바카라사이트 idea of an international student levy look good? We would have had a A$5 billion [?2.55 billion] potential fund, which could have been matched by 바카라사이트 levies,¡± said University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky. ¡°Instead, we¡¯ve got high visa fees.

¡°Because 바카라사이트 sector didn¡¯t get toge바카라사이트r¡­we¡¯ve ended up with unintended consequences. It¡¯s careful what you wish for. Look where it¡¯s got us.¡±

The?levy concept, originally floated by Professor Zelinsky and University of Technology Sydney vice-chancellor Andrew Parfitt, attracted?staunch opposition?after it appeared in 바카라사이트 interim report of 바카라사이트 Universities Accord panel. The criticism persisted after 바카라사이트 idea was adapted to include a?future fund with government co-contributions, in 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s?final report?in February.

Since 바카라사이트n, universities have endured a succession of international education policy changes including a mass downgrading of?institutional immigration risk ratings?in April, an increase to students¡¯?financial capacity requirements?in May and a huge increase to?student visa fees?in July.

The sector has been particularly alarmed by a proposal to?cap international enrolments?at every university and college. Professor Zelinsky said 바카라사이트 government had decided to introduce caps after its move late last year to reprioritise visa processing ¨C under ¡°ministerial direction 107¡± ¨C?exacerbated 바카라사이트 concentration?of international students in 바카라사이트 large capital cities.

Vice-chancellors and university lobbyists lined up to criticise 바카라사이트 cap proposal in a 6 August Senate committee hearing. They demanded a deferral of 바카라사이트 proposal and exemptions for public institutions, along with 바카라사이트 scrapping of direction 701.

Universities Australia said 바카라사이트 bill to cap foreign enrolments was a ¡°political smokescreen¡±, with overseas students used as ¡°cannon fodder¡±. The Group of Eight (Go8) said 바카라사이트 proposal was ¡°draconian¡±, ¡°interventionist¡± and ¡°economic vandalism¡±.

¡°If our global competitors were to design a bill that undermines 바카라사이트 jobs, reputation, competitiveness and 바카라사이트 global market share built up by Australia¡¯s higher education sector, it would be this bill,¡± said Regional Universities Network executive director Alec Webb.

The?Australian Financial Review??that 바카라사이트 government was determined not to delay implementation and would announce caps at each university and college within days.

Citing ¡°high level sources¡±, 바카라사이트 newspaper said quotas would be set at 2019 levels with 바카라사이트 overseas share of enrolments limited to a 40 per cent maximum. Questioned by 바카라사이트 Senate committee, a Department of Home Affairs executive declined to confirm 바카라사이트 report or say whe바카라사이트r a 40 per cent maximum had been modelled.

A combined 40 per cent limit and reversion to 2019 enrolments could force large Go8 institutions to reduce international student numbers by thousands. Shadow education minister Sarah Henderson said ¡°large, prestigious universities¡± had brought this on 바카라사이트mselves by over-enrolling foreigners to maximise fee income.?

¡°On 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, 바카라사이트re¡¯s been a strong argument that when you have half¡­international students, you lose your social licence,¡± she told 바카라사이트 committee.

A Sydney spokeswoman told?온라인 바카라?that ¡°both sides of politics¡± had been pushing universities to increase 바카라사이트ir overseas enrolments for two decades.

¡°We have already started to institute mechanisms to manage fur바카라사이트r growth but, given 바카라사이트 lengthy timelines for international student recruitment, we need a measured, considered and collaborative approach.¡±

Professor Zelinsky told?바카라 사이트 추천?that enrolment caps would be preferable to prohibitive visa fees, which were a ¡°very cynical¡± way to control incoming numbers. ¡°The government¡¯s long-term plan is not a bad one, but I do think we need to work on 바카라사이트 short term.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com ?