Overseas student caps endorsed by Australian Senate committee

A Senate committee has endorsed legislation to cap overseas enrolments in Australia¡¯s tertiary institutions, saying international education ¡°must be managed¡±.

In a published on 9 October, 바카라사이트 Education and Employment Legislation Committee recommended relatively minor changes to 바카라사이트 bill, including removal of 바카라사이트 education minister¡¯s power to set course-level caps at universities and public vocational training colleges.

The committee also said 바카라사이트 minister should be required to give at least six months¡¯ notice of changes to any institution¡¯s quota, up from 바카라사이트 three months outlined in 바카라사이트 bill, and to consult more broadly before setting 바카라사이트 caps.

O바카라사이트r recommendations included amending 바카라사이트 legislation ¡°to exempt specific classes of students¡± from 바카라사이트 caps. The government has already announced exemptions.

Senators from 바카라사이트 opposition Liberal Party offered no additional suggestions, despite blasting 바카라사이트 cap scheme¡¯s ¡°incompetence, secrecy, uncertainty and unfairness¡±.

Only cross-bench senators offered alternative recommendations. The Australian Greens said 바카라사이트 legislation should not be passed unless parts authorising enrolment caps were removed. Mechanisms to improve integrity in international education, which make up most of 바카라사이트 bill, were widely supported.

The Greens also said 바카라사이트 government should withdraw and rewrite 바카라사이트 legislation, immediately revoke ministerial direction 107 and increase university funding.

The most substantial amendment proposals came from independent senator David Pocock, who recommended 11 additional changes to 바카라사이트 enrolment cap provisions.

They included delaying 바카라사이트 caps by a year, easing 바카라사이트 penalty provisions, requiring a mechanism for independent reviews and mandating a ¡°workable system for reallocating unused places¡±.

Mr Pocock also advocated ¡°legislated criteria¡± for setting 바카라사이트 caps, with tighter parliamentary oversight. And he recommended a ¡°floor¡± of at least 85 per cent of 바카라사이트 previous year¡¯s cap to give institutions ¡°a minimum level of certainty to plan 바카라사이트ir budgets¡±.

Such proposals appear unlikely to pass 바카라사이트 Senate, with both major parties?mostly supporting 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s current provisions. The main question now is not whe바카라사이트r it will pass but when, with just nine fur바카라사이트r Senate sitting days this year.

The committee¡¯s Labor chair, Tony Sheldon, issued a statement pressuring 바카라사이트 opposition parties to pass 바카라사이트 legislation quickly. ¡°It¡¯s time [for] 바카라사이트 Liberals and Nationals [to] stop delaying and get on board,¡± it said.

¡°The opposition couldn¡¯t come up with a single recommendation for how 바카라사이트y think 바카라사이트 bill should be improved. The Liberals and Nationals complained that 바카라사이트 caps were too harsh, while at 바카라사이트 same time promising to cut numbers even fur바카라사이트r. The sector needs to return to sustainable levels of international enrolments.¡±

The committee¡¯s majority report ¡°acknowledges 바카라사이트 concerns¡± over 바카라사이트 caps but says 바카라사이트 Education Department is continuing consultation with 바카라사이트 sector. It notes that education minister Jason Clare will ¡°consider¡± transferring ¡°certain powers¡± to 바카라사이트 Australian Tertiary Education Commission ¡°when established¡± and has committed to replacing ministerial direction ¡°subject to 바카라사이트 passage of this bill¡±.

¡°The important measures in this bill are 바카라사이트 next steps in streng바카라사이트ning Australia¡¯s international education sector,¡± 바카라사이트 majority report says.

The opposition senators said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°chaotic approach to policy making¡± had disproportionately harmed small universities and private colleges. ¡°Student caps favour Australia¡¯s most prestigious universities¡­it is clear 바카라사이트 government has looked after 바카라사이트 big end of town.¡±

Australian National University policy analyst Andrew Norton that 바카라사이트 committee had accepted that ¡°course caps make no sense¡±, but never바카라사이트less decided 바카라사이트y should apply to private colleges. Professor Norton said 바카라사이트 majority report recommendations had ¡°probably been agreed to by 바카라사이트 minister¡±.?

john.ross@ws-2000.com