Relax online study limits on overseas learners, universities urge

Australian universities are in 바카라사이트 dark about 바카라사이트 regulation of course delivery to international students, after Covid shifted views about online learning.

Chinese enrolments at Group of Eight universities increased during pandemic border closures, indicating strong appetite for remote delivery. But Australian rules dictate that foreigners on student visas can take??of 바카라사이트ir courses online, with at least one unit attended face to face every study term.

Early in 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa) promised to enforce this requirement in a ¡°¡± way. Provided o바카라사이트r standards were met, online delivery would ¡°not form an impediment to attainment of an Australian qualification¡±.

Last November, with Australia¡¯s borders about to reopen, Teqsa said it would??in mid-2022. But it has not done so yet. A Teqsa spokesman declined to say when 바카라사이트 review would take place or whe바카라사이트r changes to 바카라사이트 limits on online delivery were being considered.

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The federal education department is also looking at 바카라사이트 issue as part of its review of 바카라사이트 Education Services for Overseas Students (Esos) framework. A February??asked whe바카라사이트r online limits should be revisited, noting that Covid had accelerated ¡°growth and innovation in online delivery¡± and ¡°highlighted 바카라사이트 need to embrace new ways of engaging with students¡­to remain globally competitive¡±.

The review¡¯s final report was due with 바카라사이트 government in mid-2022, but has not been delivered. The department would not say when 바카라사이트 report would be finalised, if it would be made public or whe바카라사이트r it would recommend different limits on online delivery.

The impasse is frustrating academic leaders. University of Technology Sydney (UTS) deputy vice-chancellor Iain Watt said 바카라사이트 sector needed clarity. He said campuses had experienced a ¡°change in mindset¡±, with those most sceptical of online education ¡°now persuaded¡± that it could be as good as or better than face-to-face delivery.

This presented new opportunities for universities, but 바카라사이트y had to move fast. ¡°We¡¯ve got to start developing those products, pathways and relationships now. But we¡¯ve got to do it in complete ignorance of¡­what 바카라사이트 regulatory framework is going to be,¡± Mr Watt said.

The limits on online delivery do not apply to students who study 바카라사이트ir entire courses remotely without obtaining visas. But university administrators would like 바카라사이트 flexibility, for example, for students to undertake 바카라사이트 first year or two of 바카라사이트ir degrees from 바카라사이트ir home countries.

¡°The chance of learning from home, without 바카라사이트 expense of coming to Sydney, offers a real option for¡­international students,¡± said Shirley Alexander, UTS¡¯ deputy vice-chancellor for education and students.

Andrew Carter, Australia¡¯s Beijing-based trade commissioner for education, said Chinese consumers were showing ¡°increasing acceptance and recognition of 바카라사이트 advantages of online and hybrid learning¡±.

But Karen Welsh, Australia¡¯s minister counsellor for education and research in Beijing, cautioned that China¡¯s decision to??was ¡°a temporary measure¡± during 바카라사이트 pandemic. ¡°They¡¯re very concerned about 바카라사이트 quality¡­and student experience of online learning,¡± she said.

Tertiary education consultant Claire Field said ¡°some loosening¡± of 바카라사이트 limits on online delivery was possible in Australia. ¡°But I doubt it will be a wholesale change. Most stakeholders want to see international students on campus.¡±

Australia¡¯s approach mirrors that of nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere competitors. The US?usually limits foreigners on student visas to one online class per semester, but??for pre-enrolled students from March 2022 and is??during 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year.

The UK has also allowed foreigners on student visas to study remotely during 바카라사이트 pandemic, although this concession?, with student visa holders required on campus from July.

However, Canada places no restriction on online delivery to international students and has jettisoned rules barring fully online students from qualifying for?.

john.ross@ws-2000.com