Universities Australia has welcomed the Universities Accord interim report, saying it "underscores the importance" of tertiary education in building a stronger Australia.

Education providers welcomed the decision to reinstate the cap on working hours for international students, but argue that some work experience should not count towards the limit. 

Industry leaders are looking forward to working with the new government in Australia to usher in a recovery for the international education sectors.

Research-intensive universities in the UK and Australia have said "pragmatic, risk-based" measures are needed to protect international collaboration.

Leading Australian universities have called on the government to abandon its proposed diversification index as it could “discourage certain students".

The UK's Russell Group and its Australian counterpart the Group of Eight are hoping to deepen collaboration in research and mobility.

A lack of a coordinated return plan by Australia might be giving a confusing signal to current offshore and prospective students, however stakeholders also say that flights to NSW and Victoria planned in 2021 can build momentum for other state and territories. Manu Prakaash takes the temperature across Australia.

Australian higher education institutions lost 17,300 jobs and an estimated $1.8 billion in revenue in 2020, the peak body for the sector Universities Australia has said, and it warns that more losses are on the way.