A new Ministerial Coordinating Council is to be set up in light of the just-published Australia – Educating Globally report in Australia. It will ensure Michael Chaney’s recommendations, as Chair of International Education Advisory Council (IEAC), are acted upon, although the government has yet to officially endorse all the advice presented.
This is the immediate outcome of the long-awaited report from Chaney-fronted IEAC, which spent much of 2012 canvassing stakeholders in Australia for their thoughts on how to bolster an industry that had become beleaguered by visa and currency issues.
Chaney predicts a rebound for the sector that will be worth AUS$19.1 billion by 2020 – educating 520,000 students.
“This will represent an additional 117,000 students over the 2012 level of 402,000 and an estimated increase of 146,000 enrolments from that year. Significant innovation and growth is also achievable in offshore and online education,” he wrote.
“Significant innovation and growth is also achievable in offshore and online education”
His main recommendations are focused on core issues: Quality; Positive Student Experience; Partnerships; Integrity (visas); Data/research and Promotion/Marketing.
Some of the most interesting reforms suggested fall under the category Ensuring Integrity: Chaney suggests a review of the contentious GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) test, which received considerable criticism from the sector’s submissions to IEAC. He wants a review to address “any unintended consequence, including the extent to which it may be acting as a deterrent to genuine students”.
Sue Blundell at English Australia underlined, “This is a major issue for English language colleges. Genuine students, particularly those applying to study English in Australia, are being rejected by immigration officials.
“This is hampering the much-needed recovery in enrolments for English language training which is an essential pre-requisite for many international students, particularly those from Asian countries.”
Michael Chaney chaired IEAC Photo: The PIE
Chaney also suggests that Streamlined Visa Processing be extended to “low immigration risk providers” – at present this facility is only available for the tertiary sector.
The Tertiary Education Department called the report a “new blueprint for sustainable international education”
He calls for a “whole-of-government” approach to educating employers on the value of recruiting graduates, both domestic and international; this after publicised problems that international students faced gaining suitable employment.
A proposal that the government considers increasing the points bonus available for an Australian education qualification is also suggested.
The Tertiary Education Department called the report a “new blueprint for sustainable international education”, and, Minister Chris Bowen commented, “continuing to support the sector’s competitiveness while maintaining quality is a critical priority”.
Other proposals include ensuring all international students have access to the hotly debated transport concessions; affordable safe housing; and possibilities for work experience during their stay in Australia.
Chaney also calls for a strategy to diversify student recruitment into emerging markets; increase the “commercialisation” of TAFE and VET operators working in traditional and emerging markets (as outlined in our PIE Chat here); and closer links with regional education hubs in Singapore and Malaysia, among other suggestions.
He underlines that Australia’s success in international education has been driven by commitment and innovation from those in the sector: “The Council believes stakeholders should have an active role in developing and implementing a national strategy that moves the sector forward in a coordinated and consultative way.”
