This week, Education Minister Jason Clare made an announcement that could reshape the landscape of international education in Australia.
- Director, Centre for the Study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne
For the last 40 years or so, successive federal governments have focused on developing the international education sector. The Albanese government is now signalling a new approach.
A major higher education review is suggesting Australia puts a levy on international student fees.
The federal government has for months been unclear about when international students could return to Australia. And there are still many uncertainties about the latest announcement.
Events have overtaken state plans for limited numbers of international students to return. With NSW dropping quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals, flight capacity is the final obstacle.
Universities and the international education sector have developed a number of concrete plans to bring international students to Australia. But they have all been shelved without a clear explanation.
Australia has student accommodation with nearly 100,000 beds, many now empty. The large purpose-built student housing facilities are well suited for quarantining returning international students.
Australia has never had such a drop in student numbers. Even during the SARS outbreak Australia didn’t implement bans on those travelling from affected countries.
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