The bimonthly guide to all things International Education |
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Welcome to the second edition of The Source - The Lygon Group’s regular newsletter filled with insight and analysis. We are international education nerds. We spend our days scouring the internet and keeping up-to-date with all the latest issues facing international students, universities and the education sector in Australia - and around the world. The Source is our way of giving back and sharing what we are hearing and seeing with you - the people who have the capacity to shape international education in this country. Each edition will bring you: The Big Picture: A section that for now focuses on post-COVID-19 recovery and understanding what the ‘new normal’ might look like for Australia’s international education sector.
A Closer Look at China: Key pieces of research, policy or happenings that you need to know to make informed decisions about Australia’s major international student market.
In Case you Missed It: We know you’re busy. We make sure you know what’s going on, and we have your back in case something passes you by.
What we’re Thinking About: At TLG we like to dig deep. We’ll make sure you know what we’ve been writing and talking about so that you stay one step ahead.
Students are at the heart of everything we do at The Lygon Group. Understanding the hopes, dreams and worries of our international students is key to ensuring we are building a sustainable international education sector. In each edition we bring you insight directly from a student that can make sure that you keep your focus. We exist to support international education in Australia. Get in touch to talk about how we can help you and your organisation. |
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If you had to choose where to study right now, would you choose Australia or Canada? “Australia will remain online for few years… not planning to open borders til they get vaccine. No need to file visa [right now].” For months we’ve been concerned about Australia’s competitiveness as a major destination for international students post-pandemic. We’ve been keeping a close eye on the nimble and innovative policy innovations put in place by Canada, and the UK, to keep stranded offshore students engaged, and to ensure that students have some certainty in uncertain times. Canada, in particular, has taken a whole of government approach to getting the policy settings in place to reflect the new reality prospective students are living:
- Not wanting to put their futures on-hold forever;
- Aspiring to continue their studies as soon as possible;
- Seeking assurance that time spent studying online during COVID-19 will count towards a post-study work entitlement when they graduate.
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What students are telling us “I regret going to Australia to study” Students are at the heart of everything we do at The Lygon Group. We listen to them to understand how their thinking and expectations of an international education experience are changing. We polled students from our two largest source markets, China and India, to find out what they think, right now, about Australia. Partnering with two innovative, international student-led social media communities we asked: If you had to choose where to study right now, would you choose Australia or Canada? (Shout-out to Devarshi and Zhan: you’re doing amazing things). The poll was up for one day this month and attracted a total of 1,165 respondents, demonstrating how engaged students are in these social media communities, and how eager they were to answer the question. China The Chinese students we polled belong to a social media community (Weibo) of the stranded offshore cohort. On social media they are sharing their experiences, frustrations and hopes as they wait for word that they can return to Australia to resume their studies. A staggering 68% of 394 respondents told us that if they had to choose between Australia and Canada right now, they would choose Canada. “I came home in Jan, it has been 8 months. I have been fooled by Australia since May. I really do not understand why Australia treats international students like this.” “Australia is unfriendly to international students. We just want to be back for our studies. International students in the UK are able to be back to their uni, but I cannot be back to my uni in Australia.” “If I had another chance, I will pick any place but Australia.” |
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The sub-continent The South Asian students we polled are part of a social media community (Facebook and Instagram) for students interested in studying in Australia. Current students share their insights about life in Australia with those who intend to study here. 33% of 771 respondents told us that if they had to choose between Australia and Canada right now, they would choose Canada. That’s one in three respondents in a social media community focussed on studying in Australia telling us that they now prefer Canada. “Australia will remain online for few years… not planning to open borders til they get vaccine. No need to file visa.” |
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Intentional government messaging works, and is needed now than ever There are warning signs in Australia’s two major international student source markets. Two-thirds of Chinese student poll respondents and one-third of Indian student poll respondents told us that if they had to choose whether to study in Australia or Canada right now, they would not choose Australia. Students are frustrated that they’re not hearing consistent messages about pilot programs, border opening plans, or how Australia will recognise the online component of their studies when they are able to transition onshore. They’re sharing stories between themselves on social media about their disappointment in Australia and comparing us unfavourably against our competitors. We need intentional government messaging to assuage these concerns, and this messaging needs to meet students where they are. Yes, study destination brand messaging is important. Yes, highlighting Australia’s high-quality online provision for stranded and intending students is important. But at a fundamental level, students need clarity. They need to understand the logistics of resuming studies: will my visa be processed, can I count online study towards a post-study work entitlement, are pilot programs available, when will borders re-open? Right now, Australia is losing the ‘intentional government messaging’ game. Our competitiveness is at risk, at a time we can least afford it. Canada and the UK have been outgunning us for months. Australia has made some changes to PSWR work entitlements for offshore/online study, but our clients and sector contacts, and students themselves, are telling us that the message is just not getting through. The COVID-19 crisis is hard, and predicting when borders can re-open is particularly tricky. But international students exploring their study options are not waiting. They know their futures are not on hold forever and they’re planning for that future right now. |
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The US Administration cancels visas of 1000 Chinese students and researchers This has been bubbling away since 2018, but the US Administration upped the ante this month, announcing the cancellation of 1,000 visas targeting Chinese postgraduate students and researchers. This comes as the US attempts to limit access to Wechat. |
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New measures to assist stranded Chinese international students China’s Ministry of Education has announced four new measures to assist Chinese international students who remain in China, unable to travel due to the pandemic. The measures include reiteration of the Chinese government’s approach to qualification recognition for degrees obtained partly online due to COVID-19. In April 2020, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange indicated that students who were unable to return to their international campus and chose to continue their study online would not be penalised when it came to verifying academic degrees. Second, select Chinese universities will be allowed to provide short-term learning and exchange opportunities for these students, dependent on agreements with foreign university partners. Third, select MoE-approved Chinese-Foreign joint institutes and programs will be eligible to expand their recruitment for the 2020-21 academic year. The list contains four Chinese-Australian joint institutes: UTS and Shanghai University SILC Business School Monash University and Southeast University Joint Graduate School James Cook University and Xi’An University of Technology International Engineering College, and University of South Australia and Xi’An University of Architecture and Technology An De College.
It also contains four Chinese-Australian joint programs: Australian National University (ANU) and Tsinghua University Master of Management Program Macquarie University and Tsinghua University Master of Applied Finance Victoria University and Central University of Finance and Economics Bachelor of Business Program, and University of Canberra and Hangzhou Normal University Master of Educational Leadership and Management Program.
While enrolment quotas for the approved institutes and programs will be extended, the MoE does not specify new numbers and individual institutes are beginning to announce their revised intakes. Finally, the MoE has said that external communication will be strengthened between Chinese embassies and consulates abroad and authorities and universities in host countries. This will focus on addressing ‘problems associated with the academic hindrance of Chinese international students.’ The measures represent a positive move for Australia’s Chinese international students in a difficult and complex policy environment. |
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China’s ‘dual circulation’ macroeconomic agenda and higher education This new Politburo-endorsed policy approach is now appearing as an all-encompassing solution to a world of uncertainty and hostility in China. The idea is that there needs to be a strong focus on the domestic economy and innovation along with building new avenues for international cooperation and competition. While the era of ‘opening up’ in China focussed on global circulation and an export-oriented industry, COVID-19 is forcing a re-think of an over-reliance on trade and a refocus on reliance on the domestic economy. The result is an unprecedented level of attention in China’s policy- making circles on domestic supply and demand. In the higher education and research sector, this means that there could be an increased emphasis on foreign capital and expertise in investing in China for China. There will be a greater emphasis on pilot zones, such as the new Hainan free trade port which prioritises education and research investment. President Xi has called for the development of higher education in the central and western provinces of China. There may be a renewed focus on R&D funding and innovation initiatives domestically and a focus on regional growth and building quality institutions. Fear of rising unemployment, particularly for graduates in China has led to new job creation, retraining and capacity building initiatives. The increase in Chinese international graduates looking for jobs at home will add pressure to an already overcrowded domestic job market with returning graduates competing with record numbers of domestic graduate job seekers. |
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What is the Foreign Relations Bill and how will it impact universities? The proposed new powers seek to give the Federal government authority to regulate all agreements that the state and territory governments, local councils and public universities make with foreign nations. The Foreign Minister would have the power to terminate any deals deemed against the national interest. A public register would be established where all existing arrangements would have to be disclosed, and then reviewed by the Foreign Minister. The Foreign Minister could then terminate any existing agreements, if they are considered adverse to Australia’s foreign relations or are inconsistent with foreign policy. Note that ‘foreign policy’ does not appear to need to be written or published policy. The new regime excludes commercial agreements between corporations. This means that private universities do not need to comply with this legislation. At first glance the proposed law does not appear to target universities. In reality, it has the potential to affect arrangements for joint degrees, staff or student exchanges programs, research grant funding, collaborative research and joint conferences. The legislation will only cover arrangements with foreign universities that are ‘arms of a foreign government’. However, the bill creates potential for overreach. The question of whether a university agreement is covered or not will be based on whether the foreign university has “institutional autonomy.” The bill does not define this. The criteria for assessing the autonomy of foreign universities has not been defined. The Bill was introduced and read for a second time on 3rd September. It has been referred to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and trade Legislation Committee. The committee is accepting submissions until 25 September and is due to report on 5 November. |
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Canada announces major study and work visa change Canada has announced additional major changes to its Post-Graduation Work Permit, extending the online/offshore study concession until at least April 2021. On 14 May Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced flexible rules for student eligibility for Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). The easing of the PGWPP rules – which previously had applied only for students who had planned to begin studies in Canada in May, June or September 2020 – has now been extended to apply to those intending to up to April 2021. Normally, online courses do not count toward the study requirement for a PGWPP application. However, given the COVID-19 travel disruptions the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is now allowing international students to study online while overseas and still be eligible for the work permit after graduation. International students will not have time deducted from the length of their PGWP for the period they spent outside of Canada, up to 30 April 2021. The announcement is aimed to prevent new students from deferring their post-secondary education. Australia made similar concessions in July this year with the Government announcing relaxations to onshore eligibility requirements for post-study work entitlements. But Canada’s response has been nimble and consistently updated to reflect the realities students face during the pandemic. |
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UK decision on new visa requirements The British government has recently announced a brand new, points-based visa route for international students. The new system aims to improve on the previous Tier 4 route for international students by streamlining the process for institutions and their students. The new route will apply to all international students from 5 October 2020 ahead of the previous date set for 1 January 2021. Launching the new Student route early is intended to send a message that the UK is open and to prevent students from deferring or cancelling enrolments. The government is aiming to increase the total number of international students in the UK to 600,000 by 2030 and there will be no limit set of the number of international students who can come to the UK via the new route. Students will require a total of 70 points to be granted their student visa. They will achieve the required points if they can demonstrate that they have an offer from an approved institution, speak English and are able to support themselves during their studies in the UK. The new Graduate route will be launched in June 2021 which will allow those who have completed a degree at a UK Higher Education provider with a track record of compliance to stay in the UK for two years and work at any skill level. |
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There are still plenty of recent alumni in Australia On 30 June 2020, there were 100,239 Temporary Graduate visa holders in Australia, which was higher than at 30 June 2019 when there were 91,776 Temporary Graduate visa holders in Australia. There has also been a substantial increase (19.1 per cent) in Temporary Graduate visa holders who go on to obtain a Skilled Visa, over the previous year. Graduates from Australia’s universities are an important part of the sector’s long-term reputation and play an important role in the nation’s soft power agenda. We have been speaking to Post-Study Work Rights visa holders as a part of our ongoing research into the impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s international students. View our short video interviews with two regional graduates from Australian institutions here. Read our analysis of the policy implications of COVID-19 and this group of people here. |
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