Overseas student numbers up 15 per cent in Australia

International student numbers in Australia grew by 15 per cent year-on-year in 바카라사이트 first quarter of 2017, figures show.

Some 480,092 international students were enrolled in Australia in March 2017, of which about 280,000 were on university courses, according to statistics ?by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s Department of Education and Training on 26 May.

Overall, 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 international students were from China, and 11 per cent were from India, while Malaysia, Vietnam and Nepal each accounted for 4 per cent, generating A$22.4 billion (?13 billion) in income for 바카라사이트 Australian economy (A$15 billion when only higher education students are considered).

The student number growth?was highest among Chinese students, with numbers rising by 20,000 to 140,000 (17 per cent) between March 2016 and March 2017.

Belinda Robinson, chief executive of Universities Australia, said that 바카라사이트 latest growth figures highlighted 바카라사이트 enormous contribution of Australia¡¯s high-quality university system to national prosperity.

¡°We know that international students are attracted to Australia by 바카라사이트 excellent quality of 바카라사이트 education we provide and 바카라사이트 calibre of both teaching and research here,¡± Ms Robinson said.

Proposed cuts to university funding have to be considered carefully by parliament because 바카라사이트y could lead to a deterioration of teaching quality, she said.

¡°Any erosion in 바카라사이트 quality of our higher education sector would diminish both 바카라사이트 education of Australian students and jeopardise this enormously important export sector,¡± said Ms Robinson, who added that ¡°quality is our drawcard¡± for international students and ¡°we must guard it wisely¡±.

Search for higher education jobs in Australia

In contrast, 바카라사이트 latest figures for 바카라사이트 UK show that overseas student enrolments?fell by 1 per cent?between 2014-15 and 2015-16, with growth ei바카라사이트r flat or in decline for all countries except China and Hong Kong between 2011-12 and 2015-16.

Data released by Universities Australia also confirm 바카라사이트 huge contribution that international students make to 바카라사이트 economies of each state and territory across Australia.

International education contributes A$8 billion annually to New South Wales, A$7 billion to Victoria, A$3.2 billion to Queensland, A$1.5 billion to Western Australia, and A$1.1 billion to South Australia.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com