The Australian government has released the name and number of the new “low risk” education providers eligible for streamlined visa processing (SVP). From November 23, students studying Advanced Diploma level courses at the 55 designated institutions will be privy to simpler and faster visa processing.
The list of providers comes after Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison, and Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne announced earlier this year that SVP would be extended.
At the time, Pyne commented that these changes will benefit Australia’s high-quality VET and HE sectors, supporting the sustainable growth of Australia’s international education industry while providing a vital boost to the economy.
Education Minister Chris Pyne commented that these changes will benefit Australia’s high-quality VET and HE sectors
“The number of international students seeking to study in Australia continues to rebound positively, with an increase of over 27% in the number of visas granted to offshore applicants in the 2013-14 programme year,” said Pyne.
“Extending SVP arrangements will help capitalise on these trends, reducing red tape and helping to attract further students from overseas.”
Speaking to The Australian Phil Honeywood, Executive Director of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) said the inclusion of advanced diplomas was “part of an ongoing process designed to ensure that brand Australia has quality providers which are able to maximise opportunities to recruit students.
“However, it still leaves out of the loop a number of high quality public TAFE and private colleges who either don’t have advanced diplomas or whose risk profile has been affected by certain student source countries,” he added.
The list of new providers has been specified in the Instrument Migration Regulations 1994 – Specification of Eligible Education Providers and Educational Business Partners.
