Over the past year, Australia has witnessed a steep fall of international students coming its way, owing to many reasons. More emphasis on the revenue factor given by many Australian educational institutions, rather than on the quality of education compelled the Australian government to tighten up visa requirements for overseas students. But, ever since the implementation of the visa rules, foreign pupils coming to Australia continued to fall and the fall is still on.
In response to the ongoing drop of the number of incoming international students, the country has recently decided to review the student visa program once again. The Australian Federal government made the announcement of the review- a move appreciated and supported by the nation’s education and business sectors alike.
The past one year is depressing for the Austrian education sector. Beside the global financial crisis, the sector has seen loss of international students, thereby revenues because of certain reasons. Racial attacks on international students (mainly on Indians), strengthening of the Australian dollars and tougher regulations can primarily be held accountable for the downward trend. Specially, tighter immigration rules for international students have pushed the educational industry into a miserable state.
The review report of the student visa program is slated to be out towards the middle of 2011. Reportedly, the review committee will be chaired by former Labor MP, Michael Knight from New South Wales.
Meanwhile, the nation’s education and business fraternities are looking forward for a better and strategic review of the student visa scheme so that it accommodates and supports legitimate international talents who wish to pursue studies in Australia. They also hope, with the review being carried out the hefty financial burden imposed on international student in order to apply for courses would also be reduced.
As afar the review is concerned, the nation expects the student visa program is strategically re-arranged which can ensure that it remains competitive with the programs that exist in nations like America and the United Kingdom.
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