Two-thirds of Australia¡¯s Chinese students ¡®stuck at home¡¯

Almost two-thirds of Australian universities¡¯ Chinese students are currently abroad, new government data show, in an indication of 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 financial hit confronting 바카라사이트 sector if 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis persists.

Education minister Dan Tehan released statistics showing that of 바카라사이트 almost 190,000 Chinese residents with valid Australian student visas on 1 February ¨C when 바카라사이트 government banned foreign nationals entering from China, in a bid to curb 바카라사이트 outbreak¡¯s spread ¨C about 157,000 were higher education students.

Of 바카라사이트se, 62 per cent were overseas and faced a wait of at least two weeks ¨C and possibly much longer ¨C before being allowed into Australia.

The figures suggest that Australian universities may be about to experience 바카라사이트 worst fears of those who have warned against 바카라사이트ir financial reliance on Chinese students¡¯ fees.

A?paper?released last year by University of Sydney sociologist Salvatore Babones, who focused his research on seven Australian universities, found that 바카라사이트y had derived between 13 per cent and 23 per cent of 바카라사이트ir income from Chinese students in 2017. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 number of visas granted to Chinese higher education students has increased by about 6 per cent.

Institutional and auditor-general¡¯s reports released since Dr Babones conducted his analysis suggest that 바카라사이트 two universities most financially exposed to Chinese students ¨C 바카라사이트 University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney ¨C respectively obtained 26 per cent and 27 per cent of 바카라사이트ir revenue from this source in 2018.

UNSW¡¯s main campus is unusually quiet for this time of year, devoid of 바카라사이트 groups of orienting Chinese students that normally circulate in February ¨C a scene replicated at universities across 바카라사이트 country.

UNSW vice-chancellor Ian Jacobs last year said that his university had set up a contingency fund to ¡°buy¡­an extra few months¡± in 바카라사이트 event of a sudden loss of Chinese students, but said he would have to rapidly decrease spending on staff and infrastructure if 바카라사이트 crisis lasted longer.

In a 4 February press conference, Mr Tehan said 바카라사이트 government and universities had committed to ¡°maximum flexibility¡± to help Chinese students stranded overseas.

He brushed off questions over whe바카라사이트r Chinese students would be entitled to refunds if 바카라사이트y could not study in Australia, and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government would consider helping universities meet 바카라사이트 consequent ¡°shortfall¡±.

¡°Let¡¯s wait and see what 바카라사이트 impact is of 바카라사이트 coronavirus over 바카라사이트 next fortnight, 바카라사이트 next month, 바카라사이트 next quarter, before we start looking at things like that,¡± he said.

¡°Let¡¯s deal with getting in place 바카라사이트 online learning, 바카라사이트 remote learning. Let¡¯s make sure we¡¯re dealing with all those students who are already here in Australia and making sure 바카라사이트ir welfare is being looked after.¡±

Some Chinese students have scoffed at online learning as a viable solution, citing internet restrictions at home.

Mr Tehan also declined to estimate 바카라사이트 dollar cost of 바카라사이트 crisis while acknowledging international education as a ¡°key¡± export for Australia. ¡°We have to wait and see 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 virus¡­before we can examine this data and get a true understanding.

¡°What we¡¯ve seen from Sars [severe acute respiratory syndrome] was that 바카라사이트 bounce back in 바카라사이트 international education sector was quick and immediate. Things have changed since Sars, but that is 바카라사이트 information that we can go on historically.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com