The Australian Capital Territory has announced international students fully-inoculated with approved vaccines will be welcomed back for the start of the 2022 academic year.
Students vaccinated with Therapeutic Goods Administration-recognised Covid-19 vaccines will not be required to quarantine, but will have to follow all Australian government vaccination and testing requirements when arriving, the ACT government noted.
ACT chief minister Andrew Barr shared the news suggesting that the return of international students will “be very welcome news” for Canberra.
Study Canberra added that the city’s education institutions, normally hosting 19,000 students from more than 100 countries, are “set to become hives of activity once more”.
The clarity around arrangements was welcomed by institutions in the city.
“It’s great to have clarity about arrangements in the ACT and to know that as soon as the borders open our students can come straight home to campus,” said ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt.
“We will continue to work with the Commonwealth on arrangements to open the borders to students as soon as Australia safely can,” Schmidt noted.
Returning international students will “provide huge flow on benefits to the Canberra community” vice-chancellor at the University of Canberra Paddy Nixon continued, highlighting the students that graduate to become nurses in Canberra hospitals.
“As our economy starts to rebound, we will need the talents our international students bring, and we all benefit from the vibrancy they bring to our campus and our city,” he said.
“We understand how important our international students are to the fabric of the Canberra community”
Students also add to ACT universities’ valuable research, including studies around defence research and capability development, acting rector at UNSW Canberra Harvi Sidhu emphasised.
“We understand how important our international students are to the fabric of the Canberra community, particularly in areas of essential work such as health, hospitality and the building and construction trades,” Canberra Institute of Technology CEO Leanne Cover concluded.
“We look forward to providing quality skills and training to our valued international students and the contribution they make to our local workforce.”
Beyond ACT, four of Australia’s six states are “definitely moving ahead” with return plans, IEAA’s Phil Honeywood recently said at The PIE Live.
