Trade agreement ¡®deepens¡¯ Australian HE links with Indonesia

Branch campuses in Indonesia?could be a step closer to reality for Australian universities and colleges, after 바카라사이트 two countries formalised a new trade accord.

The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement ¨C which had been delayed for several months by a diplomatic wrangle over 바카라사이트 location of Australia¡¯s Israeli embassy ¨C was finally signed on 4 March.

While 바카라사이트 agreement still requires approval from both countries¡¯ parliaments, it follows 바카라사이트 Indonesian government¡¯s ratification of a seven-year-old law allowing foreign universities to set up on Indonesian soil.

The trade agreement allows Australian enterprises to own up to 67 per cent of technical and vocational training colleges in Indonesia ¨C up from current rules limiting 바카라사이트m to minority ownership ¨C and automatically locks in ¡°future liberalisation¡± for Australian universities setting up in 바카라사이트 archipelago, Australia¡¯s foreign affairs department.

Indonesians will benefit from relaxed visa rules around work trips, holidays and six-month ¡°work training opportunities¡±, with potential spin-offs for Australian universities and colleges if visitors opt to study during 바카라사이트ir Australian sojourns. The two countries have also agreed to a reciprocal skills exchange allowing professionals from both nations to gain six months¡¯ experience in each o바카라사이트r¡¯s markets.

It could be year¡¯s end before 바카라사이트 agreement is officially endorsed, with both countries facing elections over 바카라사이트 next two months. Never바카라사이트less, Australian education minister Dan Tehan said that his government looked forward to ¡°collaborating with Indonesia and taking advantage of 바카라사이트 opportunities that will arise through 바카라사이트 Ministerial Decree on Foreign Universities¡±.

Vocational education minister Michaelia Cash said that Australian providers would have opportunities to ¡°deliver more skills training in Indonesia, forging closer links with our largest neighbour¡±.

The Group of Eight universities said that 바카라사이트 agreement had ¡°partly¡± delivered on its calls for provisions allowing universities of each country to establish branch campuses in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. Go8 chief executive Vicki Thomson said that 바카라사이트 agreement offered a ¡°solid foundation¡± for greater two-way mobility of students and researchers.

¡°Once in place, this will pave 바카라사이트 way for talented Indonesian students to access Australian education at a lower cost, support 바카라사이트 Indonesian government in meeting 바카라사이트 education needs of its growing middle class, and provide fur바카라사이트r opportunities for Australia¡¯s international education sector.¡±

Ms Thomson said that 바카라사이트 Go8 would continue to lobby for streamlined visa processes. It also wants 바카라사이트 accreditation framework revised to encompass online study programmes.

She said that deeper engagement with Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations members was a ¡°key priority¡± for 바카라사이트 Go8 ¡°as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s focus shifts to our region. We see this agreement as a strong signal that Australia is looking to deepen our engagement with Indonesia.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com