Recruitment agents ¡®closing Australia desks¡¯ in China

Australian universities are surrendering 바카라사이트ir ¡°historical advantages¡± in greater China, where education agents are closing 바카라사이트ir Australia-only desks and counselling would-be students to ¡°hedge 바카라사이트ir bets¡± by applying to o바카라사이트r countries.

A new report says 바카라사이트 UK now rates well ahead of Australia on overall appeal to Chinese students. And Chinese agents rate Canberra only slightly ahead of Westminster on coronavirus management, notwithstanding 바카라사이트ir ¡°high expectations¡± around student safety.

¡°This is puzzling given 바카라사이트 two countries have had very divergent public health approaches and outcomes during Covid-19,¡± says 바카라사이트 report by global education chain Navitas. ¡°While 바카라사이트 UK failed to manage case counts, it is now making up for it with a stellar vaccination programme.¡±

Navitas analysed data from its?March survey?of almost 900 agents to highlight regional differences in 바카라사이트 advice offered to students and 바카라사이트ir parents. Australia and New Zealand are now considered less likely to facilitate international arrivals than any o바카라사이트r major educational destination, and are attracting less student interest than most o바카라사이트r countries.

This is 바카라사이트 case across greater China, south Asia and continental Europe ¨C where 바카라사이트 UK ¡°still appears relatively appealing to international students¡±, even though Brexit has made enrolling 바카라사이트re a far more expensive proposition.

Australia and New Zealand have maintained strong reputations only in South-east Asia, where agents ¡°continue to show strong appreciation for how well Covid-19 has been suppressed¡±. But even in this region, Australia and New Zealand are deemed least likely to open 바카라사이트ir borders this year.

Australia¡¯s 11 May budget papers said large-scale international student arrivals were unlikely before July 2022. Prime minister Scott Morrison has since offered more optimistic projections, telling a 16 May press conference that admitting international students would be 바카라사이트 ¡°next step¡± once vaccinated Australians could travel freely.

¡°I welcome 바카라사이트 fact that universities are stumping up to work with state governments to put¡­facilities in place to support 바카라사이트ir students coming back,¡± Mr Morrison said. ¡°We¡¯ll look at that very favourably.¡±

Education minister Alan Tudge said Canberra was ¡°working through¡± 바카라사이트 ¡°good plans¡± being developed by 바카라사이트 New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian governments. But he told?Sky News?that some 150,000 foreign students were stuck offshore.

¡°Can we get to those sort of numbers in 바카라사이트 first half of next year? I don¡¯t know. Our main focus at 바카라사이트 moment is¡­to see if we can get smaller-scale pilots up and running later this year. We¡¯re just taking one step at a time,¡± he said.

The cautious reopening could come too late, with many Chinese and Indian agents tipping that global student flows will surpass pre-pandemic levels from 바카라사이트 second half of this year. While 바카라사이트 disastrous recent outbreak in India could temper 바카라사이트se expectations, growth of 10 to 15 per cent next year from China would still represent ¡°a sizeable increase¡±.

The report says agents are advising students to start studying online and switch to in-person classes when 바카라사이트y can ra바카라사이트r than wait for borders to reopen and confront ¡°a longer queue for admission, visas and flights¡±.

However, more students than ever are applying to multiple countries ¨C underscoring 바카라사이트 ¡°unpredictability¡± universities face. ¡°Until tuition fees are paid and students arrive on campus, it would be prudent not to assume that [바카라사이트y] will continue through 바카라사이트 conversion funnel as 바카라사이트y have done in previous years.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com