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July-August 2010 |
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Closure of Australian Education Centres (AECs): As of 1 July 2010, AECs will close in markets where they still operate. Providers are requested not to send further promotional material to AECs. Austrade will contact providers once needs for promotional material are identified. |
Re:New AEI consultations: The Re:New AEI consultation process is progressing well. Work has now begun on the development of a five-year strategic plan for AEI and a new mission statement. |
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April–June 2010 |
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Government closes student visa loopholes
The department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has recently announced new measures for the student visa program. To view the media release, please visit the DIAC website. The integrity measures can also be viewed on the DIAC website.
A number of fact sheets on the DIAC website have been updated to reflect these new measures. A list of these fact sheets can be found on the AEI website. |
COAG announces outlines of the International Students Strategy for Australia
On 20 April 2010 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) released its Communiqué on outcomes from the extended COAG meeting. The outcomes of the COAG meeting held on 19–20 April 2010 are available through the COAG website. |
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Australia consolidates educational links with India
Minister for Education Julia Gillard and India’s Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal signed a Joint Ministerial Statement to build on the cooperative ties between the two nations in the education sector.
The Joint Ministerial Statement confirms Australia and India’s commitment to expand the current education exchange program to achieve greater cooperation between the two countries’ schools, higher education, vocational education and training sectors.
More information The report contains a number of recommendations to strengthen the legislation to better protect international students and ensure Australia continues to offer world-class quality international education.
More information about the ESOS review. |
New Skilled Occupation List announced
On 17 May 2010 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced a list of occupations that would form a new Skilled Occupations List (SOL). Further information, including the new list, is available on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's (DIAC) website.
Amendments to General Skilled Migration visa subclasses
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has announced a number of legislative amendments that came into effect on Saturday, 8 May 2010. These amendments temporarily suspend the acceptance of applications for the following General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa subclasses: Subclass 175 - Skilled independent, Subclass 176 - Skilled sponsored and Subclass 475 - Skilled regional sponsored. More information is available on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website |
ESOS review interim report released
On 3 December 2009 the Hon Bruce Baird released the ESOS review interim report.
More information, Media release |
Transfer of marketing and promotion of international education from AEI to Austrade
Please see the latest update from Austrade regarding the transfer of marketing and promotion of international education from AEI to Austrade. |
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January–March 2010 |
Baird Review final report released
The review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 is now complete. On 9 March 2010 the Deputy Prime Minister released the Baird Review final report, Stronger, Simpler Smarter ESOS: Supporting International Students, and agreed to begin work on implementing a number of recommendations immediately. |
ESOS Amendment Act
The re-registration of all providers, currently registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) by 31 December 2010, is a part of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Re-registration of Providers and Other Measures) Act 2010 that was passed by the Parliament on 22 February 2010 and received Royal Assent on 3 March 2010. The Act will take effect immediately. Both the Australian Government and states and territories have finalised a nationally consistent risk managed approach to re-registration as required in the legislation.
More information |
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Re: New AEI
In 2009, the Australian Government announced significant changes to its governance arrangements for international education. In preparation for these changes, AEI is undertaking a consultative exercise under the banner of Re: New AEI to inform the re-focus of its role.
Consultations in March 2010 provide the opportunity for stakeholders to have their say in AEI’s future role and a Re: New AEI Discussion Starter (pdf 400kb) has been developed to support these conversations. The outcome of stakeholder consultations will guide the development of a five-year plan for AEI. The planning process is expected to be completed by May 2010, with the new strategy implemented from 1 July 2010.
While these changes will impact on Australian Education International (AEI), AEI will continue to play an active role in the policy sphere of international education. |
New migration arrangements announced
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has announced changes to General Skilled Migration in response to the outcomes of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) Review. The Government has revoked the MODL and will replace the Critical Skills List (CSL) and the current Skilled Occupations List (SOL) with a new SOL formulated by Skills Australia in the second half of 2010. For answers to some frequently asked questions, see the fact sheet:
pdf (102kb)
rtf (91kb)
or the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website. |
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October–December 2009 |
Senate Inquiry into International Student Welfare released
In response to the recent attacks on Indian students in Sydney and Melbourne this senate inquiry looked into the roles and responsibilities of education providers, migration and education agents, state and federal governments, and relevant departments and embassies, in ensuring the quality and adequacy in information, advice, service delivery and support for international students.
See Report at the Parliament of Australia website. |
Global Campus Management Group closures – information from AEI China Post
AEI China post advises that the Chinese Government has posted an alert on its website relating to the recent Global Campus Management Group closures. For more information, please see:
AEI China monitors China response
Chinese Ministry of Education Alert - full translation
Chinese media responses to closures. Updated 19 November 2009 |
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July–September 2009 |
New visa measures to assist international students from 1 January 2010
To further enhance integrity measures for the student visa program and ensure that international students have adequate financial arrangements for their study in Australia, the Government is introducing a Visa Application Charge (VAC) exemption for students affected by a provider default, and increasing the minimum financial requirements for international students from $12 000 to $18 000 to more accurately reflect the cost of living in Australia.
More information, Media release |
International Student Roundtable
The International Student Roundtable took place on 14-15 September 2009 in Canberra. 31 international students from across Australia were selected to participate in the Roundtable which focused on addressing student concerns and experiences.
Deputy Prime Minister's media release, speech, press conference. More information |
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Work rights for international students
More information |
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