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Falling international student numbers threatens viability of universities

Posted 1 September 2010 by Michael Evans (NTEU National Office)

The number of International Student Visa applications for higher education fell by 15,499 or 11.5% in 2009-10 compared to 2008-09, according to the most up to date information published by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. This drop in international student visas applications clearly indicates Australia is becoming a less attractive study destination for international students.    

“Falling international student visa applications not only threaten Australia’s $18b in   education export earnings, it also has the very real potential to undermine the financial viability of some of our universities and other education providers such as public TAFE colleges who are becoming increasingly reliant on international student fee income,” Matt McGowan, NTEU Victorian Division Secretary, said today.

 “The reasons for the fall in international student visa applications are no doubt many and varied and include the damage caused to Australia’s reputation from the reporting of attacks on international students, stricter regulations to weed out less reputable providers and reductions to announced cuts in net immigration by both parties in the 2010 Federal election.” 

“The ‘Fortress Australia’ approach of both major parties is contributing to the negative perceptions of potential students overseas.”

 “International student fee income is the second most important source of income for our universities and on average accounts for 15% of total income,”

“For a number of universities, including The University of Ballarat, RMIT University, Central Queensland University and Macquarie University, international fee income accounts for between ¼ and ½ of total income.”

“In other words, some of our universities and jobs at those universities are very vulnerable to any cuts in international student numbers.”

“NTEU calls on both Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard to change the tone of public debate about immigration and those seeking refuge from persecution, to commit to investing in the promotion of Australian education overseas and quarantining student visas from any planned reduction in net immigration.”

“In addition we are calling on both major parties to guarantee that public universities and public TAFEs will be compensated for any loss of international student fee income resulting from changes to government policy,” Mr McGowan said.

For further information and comment:

Matt McGowan, NTEU Victorian Division Secretary, 0417 054 110

Alex White, NTEU Communications & Campaigns Officer, 0403 694 397

Tags: , , , , , • Related Blogs: ACT Division, NSW Division, NT Division, Vic Division, WA Division, SA Division, Qld Division, Australian Catholic University, University of Adelaide, Australian Defence Force Academy, Australian National University, University of Ballarat, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Bond University, University of Canberra, Charles Darwin University, Central Queensland University, Charles Sturt University, Curtin University of Technology, Deakin University, Edith Cowan University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, Murdoch University, University of Notre Dame Australia, University of Newcastle, University of New South Wales, Queensland University of Technology, RMIT University, Southern Cross University, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Sydney, University of New England, University of Queensland, University of South Australia, University of the Sunshine Coast, University of Southern Queensland, University of Technology Sydney, University of Western Australia, University of Western Sydney, University of Wollongong

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