Rich universities get richer as Australian visa chaos bites

Australia¡¯s richest universities have ratcheted up 바카라사이트ir already dominant share of international students this year, according to Department of Education estimates.

Figures??in response to a Senate order highlight 바카라사이트 disparate impacts of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent policies, and help explain its resolve to cut overseas admissions?most sharply?at 바카라사이트 fastest growing institutions.

The share of new overseas student commencements at 바카라사이트 15 richest universities?¨C those with revenue over A$1 billion (?513 million) in 2023 ¨C has risen by 10 percentage points this year to 73 per cent, leaving a little over one-quarter scattered among 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 23 publicly funded institutions.

All but two of 바카라사이트 richer universities have seen 바카라사이트ir international commencements increase this year, while all but five of 바카라사이트 poorer group saw foreign admissions decline.

The estimates confirm that financially struggling institutions have borne 바카라사이트 brunt of visa processing?delays and rejections?since late last year. Universities mainly blame?ministerial direction 107?(MD107), which prioritised visa processing for students enrolled with institutions deemed to have low?immigration risk.

All but three of 바카라사이트 15 richest universities are rated low immigration risk while all but four of 바카라사이트 remaining institutions have medium- or high-risk ratings.

The government¡¯s proposed caps, to apply from January, would reset international student admission parameters so that 바카라사이트y reflected shares of overseas commencements in 2019 and 2023. Education minister Jason Clare wrote to 바카라사이트 leaders of all 38 universities on 16 September, warning that MD107 would remain in place for longer if 바카라사이트 bill to impose caps was delayed or defeated.

The letter notes that vice-chancellors have criticised 바카라사이트 ¡°uneven distribution¡± and ¡°budget uncertainty¡± caused by 바카라사이트 visa processing changes. ¡°The legislation that is currently before 바카라사이트 parliament fixes this,¡± it says.

The Department of Education¡¯s estimates ¨C which have been?disputed?by some universities ¨C show that 2024 increases in international commencements have exceeded 6,000 at UNSW Sydney, 4,000 at Sydney and Monash universities and 2,000 at 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia and RMIT University. Combined admissions at Australia¡¯s five multibillion-dollar institutions have risen by 37 per cent since last year and 51 per cent since 2019.

Commencements across 바카라사이트 poorer institutions have declined by 20 per cent since 2023 and 4 per cent since 2019.

Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton said 바카라사이트 government may consider caps 바카라사이트 only option to stop ¡°certain universities¡± from expanding rapidly and to curb enrolment from Chinese students who had proven ¡°less sensitive¡± to o바카라사이트r policy changes.

Professor Norton said that while universities needed international education revenue to cover some of 바카라사이트ir costs, only ¡°grand ambition¡± could explain 바카라사이트 scale of overseas enrolments at some institutions.

But while a mechanism to redistribute discretionary income more equitably might make sense at ¡°a level of high principle¡±, he said caps would not work in practice because international education was a competitive market. ¡°Ultimately you can¡¯t force international students to go anywhere 바카라사이트y don¡¯t want to go.¡±

Political pressure to curb international enrolments has not abated, with??showing that a net increase of over 388,000 in migrant numbers since mid-2023 has driven 바카라사이트 national population above 27 million.

But debate on 바카라사이트 legislation has been?delayed, and while 바카라사이트 opposition favours capping international students it has??whe바카라사이트r it will vote for 바카라사이트 bill.

In letters sent on 20 September to federal, state and territory treasurers, Universities Australia said MD107 was depriving 바카라사이트 nation of A$19 million a day.

Chief executive Luke Sheehy said 바카라사이트 costs were mounting, with parliament due to sit only briefly in a fortnight¡¯s time and 바카라사이트n not for ano바카라사이트r four weeks. ¡°MD107 is doing more harm than good,¡± 바카라사이트 letters say. ¡°It needs to be scrapped now, not in a few weeks or months.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com