Levy better than alternatives, Australian advocates warn UK

The UK¡¯s mooted?levy on international students¡¯ tuition fees?could be better than 바카라사이트 alternative, and universities should ¡°be open¡± to 바카라사이트 concept ra바카라사이트r than reflexively shooting it down, according to 바카라사이트 proponents of a similar idea floated in Australia in 2023.

University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky said that after 바카라사이트 Australian sector had mobilised against his idea for an international education levy, Canberra had ¡°half-implemented¡± 바카라사이트 mechanism anyway through?steep hikes to student visa application fees.

¡°People didn¡¯t want a levy. Then 바카라사이트y got a?cap. The cap?wasn¡¯t implemented. And how has 바카라사이트 government responded? It effectively raised a levy [that was] far greater than what we were advocating in 바카라사이트 first place. And 바카라사이트 worst part of it is that 바카라사이트 money¡¯s not going to universities.¡±

Australia expects to reap ano바카라사이트r A$760 million (?368 million) by raising 바카라사이트 visa fee a?fur바카라사이트r A$400?in July, after it increased 바카라사이트 charge from A$710 to A$1,600 last year. ¡°That¡¯s money¡­that¡¯s been taken from universities,¡± Zelinsky said.

The levy, as originally conceived by Zelinsky and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) vice-chancellor Andrew Parfitt, would have diverted about 2 per cent of overseas tuition fee earnings into a sector-wide pool. Zelinsky said it could help ¡°equalise income¡± in a sector of almost 40 publicly funded universities where close to half of international education earnings ¨C often 바카라사이트 only viable source of revenue growth ¨C goes to 바카라사이트 richest five institutions.

The Australian Universities Accord panel?included 바카라사이트 idea?in its July 2023 interim report, saying a levy could pay for infrastructure or research or help insure 바카라사이트 sector against future ¡°shocks¡±. But following a?hostile response?from 바카라사이트 sector, with rich universities deriding 바카라사이트 concept as a ¡°wealth tax¡±, 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s final report instead proposed a future fund with government co-contributions.

Education minister Jason Clare cited 바카라사이트 levy as one of 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s ¡°spiky ideas¡± worth consideration but has barely mentioned 바카라사이트 future fund proposal. Monash University policy expert Andrew Norton said 바카라사이트 levy proposal had been undermined more by a change in 바카라사이트 political winds than by opposition within 바카라사이트 sector.

Norton said that after immigration became a political headache in late 2023, 바카라사이트 government had started ¡°pulling every lever it could think of¡± to trim overseas arrivals. ¡°All 바카라사이트 political and bureaucratic energy switched over to controlling net overseas migration,¡± he said.

A similar fate could await 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s proposal for an international education levy, a surprise inclusion in a White Paper about immigration ra바카라사이트r than education. While 바카라사이트 UK government said 바카라사이트 proceeds would be reinvested in higher education and skills, it also estimated that 바카라사이트 levy could reduce applications from international students by 7,000 a year.

Norton said a levy might impose ¡°incidental effects on student demand but it wouldn¡¯t be big enough to solve any overseas migration problem on its own¡±. Mechanisms with bigger effects on migration might also have bigger effects on universities ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 ¡°poorer¡± ones.

¡°For most institutions in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 levy is probably preferable to an increase in 바카라사이트 visa application fee,¡± Norton said. ¡°[Britain¡¯s] current visa application fee is significantly below what Australia¡¯s will be soon. That¡¯s¡­a competitive advantage for 바카라사이트 UK which 바카라사이트y probably don¡¯t want to forgo.¡±

He said cash-strapped UK universities that stood to gain from a redistribution of levy earnings could ¡°lose more¡± from 바카라사이트 migration changes. ¡°Their students are, like in Australia, more sensitive to 바카라사이트 migration rules and less sensitive to 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 institution.¡±

UTS boss Andrew Parfitt said UK universities should greet 바카라사이트 levy proposal as an opportunity for a ¡°more meaningful discussion¡± about international education ¨C a revenue stream often dismissed as a ¡°plaything¡± even though it bankrolled infrastructure, course offerings and enhancements to 바카라사이트 student experience, as well as research.

Parfitt said negotiations about a levy could help generate ¡°mutual agreement¡± about international education and how its proceeds should be used. ¡°It¡¯s not a plaything, so let¡¯s have a conversation around it. ¡°Get around a table as a sector [with] government, and have a conversation.

¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d say to 바카라사이트 UK. There may be many bridges that can be rebuilt through that conversation.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com