Australia's higher education sector was responsible for almost 70% of its total international education exports in 2013, data released by the Ministry of Education has shown. International education activity contributed $15 billion to Australia's economy in 2013, up 3.8% on the previous year's $14.5 billion.
Making good on campaign promises to prioritise international education, Australia's Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison and Minister for Education Christopher Pyne have announced that the government will extend streamlined visa processing (SVP) to 22 undisclosed private education providers. Other measures are also being reviewed.
While the Australian sector was pleased to hear new Minister Christopher Pyne speaking of the "tremendous zeal" for rebuilding the international education sector, the CEO of peak body ACPET has drawn attention to rumours that only 20 of 90 eligible providers beyond universities may benefit from Streamlined Visa Processing (SVP).
In the final days of campaigning for Saturday's federal election, the two major political parties in Australia have released policy statements promising to increase outbound mobility and follow up on commitments made following the Chaney report released earlier this year. The election marks a crucial moment for the the industry that has seen declining numbers across all levels since 2009.
The Australian Council of Private Education and Training (ACPET) has said that the upcoming Australian election will benefit private international education operators, whichever side wins. However, CEO Claire Field told The PIE News that the Opposition Coalition was most likely to push through overdue reforms to the sector.
The chair of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training has written an open letter to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, urging her to extend student visa reform to non-university providers. Despite Australia’s ongoing international education downturn, Martin Cass said Gillard was seeking only to "reward large, homogenous public institutions”.
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training has called for student visa reforms to be extended beyond the university sector, after a damning report showed Australia’s $2billion education export industry fell sharply in the two years to FY2011-12—with the brunt borne by ELICOS and VET.
Foreign education providers will be allowed to expand into Malaysia's vocational education sector, the government has announced, as it aims to increase economic growth by 2020 and alleviate major skills shortages. However, international institutions will face challenges to recruit students in the country, given only around 10% of secondary schools age students go into vocational and technical streams.
