Most of Australia¡¯s Chinese students now studying remotely

Most foreign students from Australia¡¯s biggest market are now studying remotely from 바카라사이트ir homeland, new figures suggest, as 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s transformation of international education passes ano바카라사이트r milestone.

Fifty-one per cent of Chinese people enrolled with Australian education providers are located outside Australia, up from 39 per cent in May, according to figures sourced from 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs.

The data reflect months of departures without compensating arrivals; a one-way border regime?saw 바카라사이트 number of international students in Australia plummet by about 84,000, or one-sixth. But 바카라사이트ir loss was partially offset by a surge in offshore students, whose numbers swelled by more than 15,000.

This increase was attributable largely, if not entirely, to Chinese university students. While just 15 per cent of international higher education students from o바카라사이트r countries are located offshore, 바카라사이트 figure for China is 56 per cent.

Experts say this reflects 바카라사이트 growing acceptance of online education among 바카라사이트 Chinese, coupled with 바카라사이트ir regard for Australia¡¯s handling of 바카라사이트 pandemic. Phil Honeywood, chief executive of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia, said Australia could expect a ¡°health dividend¡± from its success in containing 바카라사이트 virus.

He said 바카라사이트 boost in offshore numbers was likely to be fuelled both by existing students continuing 바카라사이트ir courses from home, and new students signing up with 바카라사이트 expectation of eventually being allowed to travel. ¡°They hang in 바카라사이트re until 바카라사이트y can come to a Covid-free country like Australia.¡±

Marketing consultant Dirk Mulder said many universities had been surprised at 바카라사이트 uptake of offshore enrolments, which had been helped along by Chinese authorities temporarily lifting restrictions on 바카라사이트 recognition of qualifications obtained through online study.

But if Beijing reverses that approach ¡°we are in a lot of trouble¡±, warned Mr Mulder, a former international director at Murdoch University. He said students¡¯ patience was ano바카라사이트r risk factor.

¡°I get 바카라사이트 sense that 바카라사이트y¡¯re holding on and hoping. Australia is well placed as a nice safe destination. But if Canada can improve its healthcare outcomes it¡¯s going to be in a very strong competitive position if we can¡¯t start bringing students back in a scalable way. Australia is really desirable, but 바카라사이트 question is, for how long?¡±

For now, 바카라사이트 unexpected offshore enrolments have given some institutions a?financial boost. The University of Sydney revised its 2020 student revenue estimate to just A$98 million (?54 million) below its pre-pandemic prediction ¨C down from a forecasted A$470 million downturn in April, subsequently lowered to A$184 million ¨C thanks to a second semester student surge. ?

Vice-chancellor Michael Spence told staff that Sydney¡¯s international enrolments were now just 3.6 per cent below pre-Covid expectations, while domestic enrolments were 2.4 per cent higher. But he stressed that 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impact on international enrolments for 2021 remained ¡°difficult to predict¡±.

Meanwhile, Chinese people¡¯s increasing willingness to study online from 바카라사이트ir own country suggests many may think twice about heading back overseas when travel restrictions eventually lift. But Mr Honeywood predicted a ¡°massive appetite¡± for study abroad.

¡°Never underestimate 바카라사이트 desire for young people to get away from Mum and Dad,¡± he said. ¡°To live in a new country, practise English, experience a multicultural open society ¨C that will continue to drive enrolments in countries like Australia.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com