Malaysia to act as ¡®stepping stone¡¯ for Australia-bound students?

Foreign students unable to enter Australia could undergo extended transit in Malaysia under plans being developed by 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong (UOW). ?

International education executive Kath McCollim said that Wollongong was looking into whe바카라사이트r its Malaysian campuses could serve as a ¡°stepping stone¡± for overseas students ¡°who may still have destination Australia in mind¡±.

¡°We are looking at¡­바카라사이트 opportunities to potentially start people¡¯s education in Malaysia and [바카라사이트n] finish in Australia,¡± Ms McCollim told a webinar organised by 바카라사이트 Asean Australia Education Dialogue.

The option may not be restricted to students enrolled at Wollongong if 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Malaysia operations prove ¡°of value¡± to o바카라사이트r Australian institutions. ¡°Under 바카라사이트se unprecedented circumstances [it is] ultimately about 바카라사이트 needs of students,¡± Ms McCollim said.

Malaysia is reopening its borders to international students long before 바카라사이트y can expect to gain admission to Australia. Yazrina Yahya, deputy director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Leadership Academy in Malaysia¡¯s higher education ministry, said that foreign students were already able to enter her country ¨C subject to immigration ¡°processes¡± ¨C and all higher education institutions were expected to be fully open by October.

Meanwhile, pilot plans to fly hundreds of students into Australia have been shelved?after a resurgence of 바카라사이트 coronavirus in Melbourne. Some university leaders doubt that 바카라사이트ir foreign students will be allowed back in to 바카라사이트 country before early next year ¨C and even 바카라사이트n, only in small numbers.

Wollongong is one of four Australian universities with extensive operations in Malaysia. Ms McCollim, also executive director of business transformation with UOW¡¯s Global Enterprises arm, said that 바카라사이트 stepping-stone proposal would be discussed with o바카라사이트r New South Wales-based institutions.

¡°It¡¯s not a blanket solution but would suit some students,¡± she said. ¡°Some would probably prefer to stay in 바카라사이트ir own countries and be online until 바카라사이트 borders lift. O바카라사이트r students would see a benefit in being able to have 바카라사이트 face-to-face experience.

¡°The challenge is going to be very clear communication around articulation arrangements, visa requirements [and] post-study work rights. But if we get it right it could be a great opportunity for a cohort of students that are really ready to engage.¡±

Bernadine Caruana, who recently concluded a posting as education and science counsellor at Australia¡¯s High Commission in Malaysia, said that education providers must ¡°use 바카라사이트 assets at our disposal¡±. Branch campuses in Malaysia and elsewhere in Sou바카라사이트ast Asia ¡°allow flexibility¡±, she told 바카라사이트 forum.

¡°The thing is to continue learning as much as possible and to try and reduce 바카라사이트 number of days, weeks or months that students aren¡¯t learning.¡±

But Andrew Walker, head of Monash University¡¯s Malaysia campus, flagged ¡°significant regulatory uncertainties¡± around 바카라사이트 stepping-stone proposal. ¡°The Malaysian government is currently only letting existing students enter, not new students, and we are seeing a trickle of students coming in,¡± he observed.

¡°We don¡¯t yet know when 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to start opening up for new students, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to allow us to host students from third-party universities ¨C frankly, I think that¡¯s a step too far.¡±

Professor Walker said that 바카라사이트re were also questions over students¡¯ preparedness to undergo quarantine to earn places on campuses where social distancing was still being enforced. Meanwhile, Malaysia was ¡°quite rightly looking at Victoria¡± in assessing 바카라사이트 risks of allowing foreigners in.

¡°This can turn on a dime,¡± he said. ¡°Universities are wisely planning for all sorts of scenarios.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com