March 29, 2023

International Students Flocking to Vocational Training in Australia Finds News Reports

I International students have been arriving in Australia to pursue university courses but are switching to vocational or private college training. This news was first reported by an agent association that warned of the trend. Vocational training offers more flexible study options and allows international students to benefit from Australia’s uncapped work rights.

In January last year, Australia lifted its 40-hour fortnightly work limit for international students due to growing skills shortages. However, some criticised the move as potentially damaging to the country’s reputation. The government announced that it would reintroduce the cap on the number of hours international students can work from July 1, 2023. The new cap will be set at 48 hours per fortnight.

This is intended to ensure that student visa holders can focus on obtaining a quality Australian education while still being able to support themselves financially and gain valuable work experience. However, there are concerns about system abuses ahead of the July 1 date for the reintroduction of the cap. Organisations such as Navitas have warned that “unscrupulous providers and agents” have been exploiting the policy.

…there have been concerns that the policy has led to a rise in non-genuine student visa applications, with organisations such as Navitas warning that “unscrupulous providers and agents” have been exploiting the policy…

However, stakeholders have warned of system abuses ahead of the July 1 date for the reintroduction of the cap. There have been concerns that the policy has led to a rise in non-genuine student visa applications, with organisations such as Navitas warning that “unscrupulous providers and agents” have been exploiting the policy.

President of agent association AAERI Ravi Lochan Singh said that the practice of switching has been facilitated by on-shore migration agents in Australia and has resulted in retention concerns for universities. “This has also impacted the offshore education agents as they have been denied their commissions,” he added.

Also commenting on the news was Universities Australia deputy chief executive Peter Chesworth. He said that there are many reasons why students decide to change their study arrangements, including to meet their career interests at any given time or due to personal circumstances.

The trend of international students switching from university courses to vocational training in Australia raises concerns about system abuses and retention for universities. The reintroduction of the cap on work hours for student visa holders is intended to address these issues while still allowing students to support themselves financially and gain valuable work experience.

Universities Australia recommends maintaining a six-month restriction period for principal courses and collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to revise the Simplified Student Visa Framework. This would ensure that a new provider assumes full SSVF risk for a transferred student.

Posted in News and tagged News, Australia, International Students, Vocational Training, Navitas, AAERI
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