New scholarships turn out to be funded by axeing exchange scheme

Australian educators have accused 바카라사이트 federal government of disingenuity after it axed an old scholarship programme to pay for a new one.

International education representatives have cried foul over 바카라사이트 government šs decision to fund 바카라사이트 new Destination Australia scholarships, announced last month as part of a much-hyped population policy package, by axeing a two-way mobility scheme called 바카라사이트 Endeavour Leadership Programme.

The Endeavour programme, established 16 years ago, had already suffered a A$63?million (?34?million) cutback in last year šs budget. Its separate inbound and outbound mobility streams, which had a global remit, were also amalgamated into a single programme focused on 바카라사이트 Asia-Pacific.

Now 바카라사이트 scheme šs remaining funds will be appropriated for Destination Australia, which is designed to lure students to regional universities and colleges, under plans announced in this year šs budget on 2?April.

Phil Honeywood, who convenes 바카라사이트 expert members of 바카라사이트 government šs Council for International Education, said 바카라사이트 council had not been told in advance of 바카라사이트 cash switch.

¡°The government has robbed Peter to pay Paul,¡± said Mr Honeywood, chief executive of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia. ¡°It sends all 바카라사이트 wrong messages to countries that are already cynical about Australia šs focus on just making money from international students.

¡°Mobility is clearly not seen as a priority.¡±

It is not 바카라사이트 first time that 바카라사이트 Coalition government has funded regionally focused initiatives by raiding broader programmes. In November, it emerged that 바카라사이트 government was bankrolling a A$135?million enhancement of regional higher education delivery by freezing a research funding programme ¨C a cut subsequently revealed to total A$329?million.

Mr Honeywood said Endeavour šs abolition would leave Australia with no outward mobility support for vocational education at a time when neighbours such as Indonesia and India were ¡°crying out for assistance with skilling 바카라사이트ir own populations¡±.

He said he had unsuccessfully lobbied for vocational students to be included in 바카라사이트 New Colombo Plan, which funds scholarships for Australians studying abroad.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a A$525?million funding package for vocational education, one of 바카라사이트 centrepieces of 바카라사이트 2?April budget, has largely been bankrolled with recycled money. Budget papers show that 바카라사이트 measure will be partially paid for by redirecting uncommitted funding from 바카라사이트 Skilling Australians Fund, ano바카라사이트r budget highlight when it was unveiled several years ago.

john.ross@ws-2000.com

Academics and university leaders will discuss how universities will internationalise and collaborate over 바카라사이트 next 20 years at 온라인 바카라 šs Teaching Excellence Summit, which is taking place at Western University, in London, Ontario, Canada, from 4-6 June.