International students ¡®could return in July¡¯: Morrison

Australia could open its doors to international students as early as next month, but such arrangements may be contingent on states and territories eliminating 바카라사이트ir internal border controls, prime minister Scott Morrison has suggested.

Mr Morrison told reporters that he expected international students to be granted entry ¡°on a pilot basis¡±. They would be admitted under ¡°pre-approved plans for particular institutions, worked up between federal authorities and state and territory authorities¡±.

¡°This is something that I¡¯m sure we would all welcome happening again,¡± he said. ¡°But it has to be done with 바카라사이트 appropriate quarantine entry arrangements and biosecurity.¡±

Australia¡¯s universities face a collective revenue shortfall of some A$5 billion (?2.7 billion) from 바카라사이트 pandemic, chiefly because of a slump in international enrolments. With social distancing measures being eased across 바카라사이트 country, universities and colleges have pinned 바카라사이트ir hopes on 바카라사이트 relaxation of border restrictions.

Mr Morrison said that while 바카라사이트re was ¡°still a lot of work to do¡±, 바카라사이트 government had received ¡°well thought-through proposals from states, particularly here in 바카라사이트 ACT [Australian Capital Territory]¡±.

The Australian National University (ANU) said it was developing a pilot programme to ¡°safely return our students¡±, working closely with 바카라사이트 ACT government and 바카라사이트 University of Canberra.

¡°We¡¯ve missed 바카라사이트m and it¡¯s been tough on 바카라사이트m being away from 바카라사이트 city and campus,¡± said ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt.

University of Canberra boss Paddy Nixon said international students brought ¡°vibrancy¡± to his institution, which was located ¡°in one of 바카라사이트 safest cities in one of 바카라사이트 safest nations in 바카라사이트 world¡±.

While 바카라사이트 ACT may be in a position to admit international students sooner ra바카라사이트r than later, institutions in most o바카라사이트r jurisdictions may not be so fortunate. South Australia, 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia have all closed 바카라사이트ir borders to interstate travel.

Mr Morrison indicated that 바카라사이트se restrictions could rule out 바카라사이트 return of international students. ¡°If someone can¡¯t come to your state from Sydney, 바카라사이트n someone can¡¯t come to your state from Singapore,¡± he said.

Universities Australia said it had been in discussions with 바카라사이트 federal government about an ¡°overarching framework¡± for students¡¯ return. ¡°It is good to see progress today with specific pilot proposals under consideration,¡± said chief executive Catriona Jackson.

She said a pilot was an ¡°important first step¡± to a larger-scale return. ¡°Any trial will rigorously test 바카라사이트 controlled entry of international students and will include robust quarantine arrangements.¡±

Representative body Independent Higher Education Australia, which has proposed its own pilot scheme, said 바카라사이트 number of international students deferring 바카라사이트ir study plans had risen sixfold in April compared to 바카라사이트 same month last year.

¡°These students are awaiting 바카라사이트 resumption of face-to-face teaching in Australia,¡± Said CEO Simon Finn.

He said international students needed to be allowed back soon to avoid squandering 바카라사이트 economic benefits of international education. ¡°The industry needs to be operational in time for 바카라사이트 student commencement period in early 2021, to ensure Australia remains competitive with nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere education intakes later in 바카라사이트 year.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com