Monthly Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) visa data shows that a net 294,000 international students arrived in Australia over the year to July, which drove the 503,000 increase in total net visa arrivals (excluding visitors).
Australia’s record net overseas migration (NOM) has been driven by the unprecedented rebound in international student visa arrivals, reported macrobusiness.com.au. Monthly Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) visa data shows that a net 294,000 international students arrived in Australia over the year to July, which drove the 503,000 increase in total net visa arrivals (excluding visitors).
More than a decade ago, Australia experienced a large increase in the number of Indian students enrolling in dubious VET courses like as hairdressing and cooking, many of whom went on to seek permanent residency.
Private colleges and agencies operated as ‘middlemen’ for Australia’s immigration system, earning fat commissions from fake students seeking backdoor work rights and permanent residency.
Records revealed earlier this year pointed out that half or more of new Indian students enrolling at several universities were either ghosting them by failing to show up for class or were being poached by rival private colleges soon after arrival, leaving these universities out of pocket and tarnishing their reputations.
A parliamentary inquiry held in May also heard evidence of private VET providers collaborating with unregulated education agents to steal students from universities for large commissions, sell work visas, and build “ghost colleges” where students do not attend classes but are awarded degrees.
Menelaos Koumides, managing director of the Australian Academy of Vocational Education and Trades, told the parliamentary inquiry that the regulatory framework was failing: “We see institutes that we think really should not be here … they’re highly competent in licensing requirements [and they’re] gaming the system”, Koumides said. “[There are] blow-outs in agent’s commissions … 98% of students are going through agents … these are all consequences of a regulatory system … that was never fit for purpose.”
Koumides also claimed that these “ghost colleges” were automatically passing students, and that the system is “not fit for purpose when it comes to quality, it never was”.
“Education agents have been actively poaching students in exchange for cash, while colleges and universities offer generous discounts for students to jump ship.”
— AFR
“It’s a rort that turns a high-quality student visa into a low-rent work visa”, said Julian Hill, a federal Labor MP who was formerly the Victorian government’s head of international education and was a member of the afore mentioned parliamentary inquiry.
International Education Association of Australia CEO Phil Honeywood likewise labelled Australia’s international education system a “Ponzi scheme” for enticing non-genuine students through migration pathways.
The “ponzi scheme” has finally come to a head with The AFR reporting that the Albanese Government will ban colleges that target international students from paying commissions to agents.
The government will also implement a series of “risk indicators” as part of a monitoring framework that will track student attendance, alongside implementing a “fit and proper person” test for college owners, and prohibiting cross-ownership between colleges and education agents.
“Thousands of newly arrived Indian students have been using loopholes in the system to abandon their courses at established universities to enrol at cheaper private colleges”, The AFR reported.
“Universities are reporting sharp increases in the number of Indian students who either arrive in Australia but never step foot in their institution or abandon their course shortly after. One university said about 500 of its expected 1200 new enrolments from India for semester two last year either did not front up or jumped ship in the first six months”.
“Use of student visas as a back door to the jobs market is also rife, with some colleges merely shopfronts with little or no teaching and administration facilities. Under the changes, student attendance will be monitored”.
“Education agents have been actively poaching students in exchange for cash, while colleges and universities offer generous discounts for students to jump ship”, The AFR reports.
Education Minister Jason Clare claims the reforms will stop “shonks and dodgy operators trying to exploit students and make money out if it”.
From July 1, 2023, Indian graduates of Australian tertiary institutions on a student visa can apply to work without visa sponsorship for up to eight years. Universities Australia Chief Executive, Catriona Jackson, cheered that the Agreement will lead to even higher flows of Indian students into Australia: “The Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement will support the flow of more students”. Jackson also said: “We already have more Indian students studying in Australia than before the pandemic, but it is in our interest to build on this”.
*************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com