Australia

Australia has eased visa requirements for students from 'high risk' countries including China, India and Pakistan, reducing the evidence requirements of English language proficiency, financial capacity and previous study.

This week the Australian government will attempt to slash a number of federal laws in its first planned "repeal day" that will save AUD$1 billion a year in red tape. A number of "heavy handed" regulations affecting the university sector are set to be abolished in the process, a move that has been welcomed by international educators in the country.

The Government of Queensland in Australia has launched a public consultation to help "revitalise" its international education and training sector. International student scholarships and a raft of offshore visits are among suggestions to boost international education exports.

In positive news for Australia's international education sector, year-end 2013 data reveals an almost double-digit rise in course commencements in 2013 compared with the previous year. This upturn was across all sectors except VET, which remained stable with negligible -0.1% negative growth.

A rise in student visa applications in Australia signals that the international education industry could be recovering from a four-year slump leading to calls for a national education strategy. Australian Department of Immigration and Statistics data shows a 7.1% rise in year on year student visa applications from March to September 2013.

A student recruitment company that has been operating in the Australian market for two years has expanded its business to the UK with the aim of recruiting for 20-25 providers by the middle of the year. The company also plans to develop its business model to include retail spaces in both the UK and Australia.

Apollo Global, the investment branch of Apollo Education Group – one of the world's largest private education providers – has acquired Australia-based Open Colleges– a leading distance education provider in operation since 1910. Open Colleges says the deal makes international expansion more viable.

Australia's Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb announced Uttam Kumar from India the winner of the Win your Future Unlimited competition that awards an international student a year of free tuition, return flights, accommodation and internship opportunities in Australia.

Australia’s largest international student recruiter has announced that it will enable the public to invest in its business as it makes some shares available when co-owner SEEK- an online job and education company– sells part of its 50% stake in the company. IDP says the IPO will mean further investment in existing operations rather than new growth strategies.

International pathway provider Study Group will take over operations of ANU College at the Australian National University (ANU). Providing English language and pathway courses at a top-50 ranked Australian institution will strengthen the global portfolio of Study Group, which issued Q3 results last week.

Around 500 people attended a memorial service last week for a Korean international student who was killed in Brisbane at the weekend. The Afternoon of Remembrance was held at Wickham Park in Brisbane's CBD, where the body of English student, 22 year old Eunji Ban, was discovered on Sunday morning.

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.

The state of Victoria in Australia has unveiled a significant AUD$17.5 million international education strategy. Transport concessions for metropolitan and regional Victoria will now be offered; new Education Services Managers will be appointed in Latin America, Indonesia and China, and 150 internships will be made available among 19 initiatives.

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).

Australia's newly elected Education Minister Christopher Pyne told AIEC delegates this week that he will launch a national strategy to "rebuild" the sector that will include reviewing post-study work rights and Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirements.