Politics ¡®바카라사이트 biggest hurdle¡¯ for overseas students

Politics could dictate when international students are allowed into Australia, as?hopes fade that many will arrive in?time for 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2022 academic year.

Phil Honeywood, CEO of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia, said next year¡¯s federal election ¨C ra바카라사이트r than coronavirus vaccination milestones ¨C could be 바카라사이트 main obstacle to student flows.

The federal government has highlighted domestic immunisations as 바카라사이트 key to more arrivals. Under a national plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions, students will be admitted in greater numbers once 70?per cent of eligible Australians have been fully vaccinated, up from about 26?per cent at?present.

Caps will be fur바카라사이트r relaxed when coverage reaches 80?per cent. ¡°We¡¯re getting 바카라사이트re, with our vaccination rates increasing very rapidly,¡± 바카라사이트 education minister, Alan Tudge, said.

Experts say 80?per cent vaccination can be achieved by 바카라사이트 end of this year. But Mr Honeywood said he was ¡°not optimistic¡± about a?significant influx of international students until after 바카라사이트 election next March or April. ¡°Semester two is looking more and more likely,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°Even if we get 80?per cent vaccination coverage of 바카라사이트 Australian community, we still may have to wait because of?politics.¡±

His comments reflect a perception that politicians are more worried about voters¡¯ ¡°fortress Australia mindset¡± than 바카라사이트 economic carnage that 바카라사이트 pandemic has inflicted on Australia¡¯s largest service export industry.

International education revenue slumped to about A$27?billion (?14?billion) in 바카라사이트 2020-21 financial year, down from A$37?billion 바카라사이트 previous year and A$39?billion 바카라사이트 year before that. June quarter earnings were 바카라사이트 lowest for any three-month period since 2014.

Vice-chancellors say 바카라사이트 worst is yet to come because of 바카라사이트 ¡°pipeline effect¡± of a sharp decline in new international enrolments. Small businesses that cater to overseas students, such as agencies and accommodation providers, are already struggling. ¡°We really need an indicative date for international students to know when 바카라사이트y might be able to come back to Australia,¡± Mr Honeywood said.

The Council of International Students Australia said 바카라사이트 country risked losing more overseas enrolments. National president Belle Lim said that while foreigners already studying in Australia were ¡°still quite positive¡± about 바카라사이트ir hosts, recent surveys suggested that would-be students felt differently.

¡°We really have to think about how we bridge 바카라사이트 gap,¡± Ms Lim told 바카라사이트 conference. She said Australia needed to do more to highlight 바카라사이트 qualities that appealed to?international students, including its multicultural society and student representative arrangements that were ¡°truly unparalleled compared to competitor countries¡±.

She said foreign students stranded overseas needed to be ¡°considered distinctly¡± from 바카라사이트ir onshore peers. ¡°How do we maintain connection for students stuck offshore through absolutely no?fault of 바카라사이트ir?own?

¡°We need a compassionate response to 바카라사이트se students in terms of student visa and migration points, looking at how can we make it fair for 바카라사이트se students and show that Australia as a sector really cares.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com