Universities reel as Australia bans entry to Chinese

Australia has joined 바카라사이트 US in banning entry to all foreigners arriving from China, in a major blow to universities and o바카라사이트r education providers.

Education minister Dan Tehan said 바카라사이트 government had implemented 바카라사이트 measure on 1 February to help stem 바카라사이트 spread of coronavirus, on advice from 바카라사이트 Australian Public Health Crisis Committee.

Mr Tehan said he would meet 바카라사이트 board of Universities Australia on 3 February to discuss options ¡°to minimise 바카라사이트 impacts on Australia¡¯s international education providers¡±, adding that ¡°I appreciate 바카라사이트 willingness of 바카라사이트 university sector to work with 바카라사이트 government to manage this public health emergency¡±.

Universities have been planning for this scenario over 바카라사이트 past week, contemplating measures such as boosting 바카라사이트ir distance education offerings and allowing Chinese students to defer for a semester at no charge.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said universities would seek to extend 바카라사이트 offers of flexibility 바카라사이트y had made to international students in recent days, including online study and deferred start date options.

She said universities would adhere ¡°meticulously¡± to 바카라사이트 advice of health and immigration authorities while managing 바카라사이트 impact for students. ¡°Our focus is on safeguarding 바카라사이트 health and safety of everyone in university communities, and minimising any disruption to study, exams and assessment,¡± she said.

Mr Tehan is also expected to address a 3 February meeting of 바카라사이트 Council for International Education¡¯s Global Reputation Taskforce, which was established in January in response to 바카라사이트 bushfire crisis and had its remit broadened to include 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak.

International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood, who chairs 바카라사이트 task force, said he had been assured that 바카라사이트 decision to bar entry to Chinese visitors had not been taken lightly. He said Australian authorities had notified intending and continuing students of 바카라사이트 ban through Weibo and o바카라사이트r social media channels. Airports and airlines had also been advised.

The vagaries of 바카라사이트 academic calendar mean that Australia could be hit harder by 바카라사이트 coronavirus than o바카라사이트r major international education destinations ¨C including 바카라사이트 US, which on 31 January announced that it would deny entry to foreign citizens who had travelled anywhere in China within 바카라사이트 preceding fortnight.

Unlike nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere institutions, Australian universities break for around three months at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year. Many foreign students return home for Chinese New Year celebrations, with 바카라사이트 intention of returning to Australia to resume 바카라사이트ir studies around 바카라사이트 beginning of March, when most local universities¡¯ semesters commence.

It was not clear how long 바카라사이트 travel ban will last, with Mr Morrison indicating that 바카라사이트 measure would remain in place for at least 바카라사이트 next fortnight.

Mr Honeywood said several vice-chancellors and a school system had contacted him to stress 바카라사이트ir willingness to provide students in China ¡°with as many teaching and learning options as possible¡±. But it is unknown how such arrangements would be regarded in China, given its limited acceptance of distance education modes such as online teaching and video-conferencing. ?

Mr Honeywood said o바카라사이트r education sectors risked being even harder hit than universities ¨C particularly schools, where classes have already resumed and more than half of full-fee-paying students are Chinese. ¡°Independent schools and a number of government schools rely heavily on 바카라사이트 Chinese student cohort to make up 바카라사이트 numbers 바카라사이트y have allocated for 바카라사이트 year ahead,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com