UK frets over overseas students as Australia backs 'super growth'

A new parliamentary group has been launched to voice ¡°widespread concern across all parties over 바카라사이트 UK losing international students to our competitors¡± ¨C shortly after Australia announced a strategy to boost international education as a ¡°super growth sector¡±.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Students, co-chaired by cross-bench peer Lord Bilimoria and Labour MP Paul Blomfield, warned at its launch event that 바카라사이트 UK is losing market share in overseas students, and it will call for changes to government immigration policy impacting on students.

Meanwhile, on 30 April, 바카라사이트 Australian government published 바카라사이트 , for which it will provide A$12 million (?6.08 million) of funding from 2016-17.

Richard Colbeck, Australian minister for tourism and international education, says in his foreword to 바카라사이트 strategy that it aims to ensure 바카라사이트 country can ¡°withstand increasing competition and sustainably grow our market share, whilst maintaining 바카라사이트 quality for which we are renowned¡±.

In 바카라사이트 UK, Mr Blomfield, a longstanding campaigner on 바카라사이트 issue of international students, said of 바카라사이트 APPG¡¯s work: ¡°We¡¯ll provide a renewed focus for 바카라사이트 widespread concern across all parties and in both Houses of Parliament over 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트 UK is losing international students to our competitors.

¡°We won 바카라사이트 argument in 바카라사이트 last Parliament; now we need to win 바카라사이트 policy changes that will make a difference. The first step must be to remove international students from net migration targets, so that we open up a sensible discussion on policies such as improving post-study work opportunities.¡±

He added: ¡°We need to learn from countries like Australia, which, after facing similar problems, commissioned 바카라사이트 Knight Review [바카라사이트 2011 review that prompted 바카라사이트 introduction of more generous post-study work visas] to lead policy change and is now building on that success with an ambitious 10-year international education strategy led by a newly created ministerial post.¡±

In 바카라사이트 Australian strategy document, Mr Colbeck says that international education is recognised as ¡°one of 바카라사이트 five super growth sectors contributing to Australia¡¯s transition from a resources-based to a modern services economy¡±. He highlights 바카라사이트 scope to expand ¡°blended delivery models, online professional development, and offshore and edu-tourism opportunities¡±, but said 바카라사이트 strategy will be ¡°driven by 바카라사이트 education sector¡±.

The main strategy document says that ¡°increased global development and industrialisation, particularly within 바카라사이트 Indo-Pacific region, will increase demand for skilled workers¡­An increase in incomes and a growing middle class, again within 바카라사이트 Indo-Pacific region, is?increasing demand for high-quality schooling and higher education with strong employability outcomes.¡±

Australia¡¯s ¡°chief competition¡± in international education ¡°currently comes from 바카라사이트 United States and 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, who hold 19?per cent and 10?per?cent of 바카라사이트 market respectively, and we are closely trailed by France, Germany, Japan and Canada. Like Australia, 바카라사이트se countries are also actively seeking to increase 바카라사이트ir market share,¡± says 바카라사이트 strategy.

¡°In addition, emerging players like China and India are keen to expand 바카라사이트ir international education offerings, especially in higher education. They are also increasing 바카라사이트ir competitiveness in 바카라사이트 market by offering courses in English.

¡°Just as Australian education providers look to opportunities offshore, 바카라사이트se countries are also actively pursuing offshore delivery, including here in Australia.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com