The Australian government has suspended private colleges and training organisations from applying to offer new courses to international students for 12 months to address the problem of integrity.
The decision was made after a migration review published in 2023 identified serious visa violation concerns within the sector.
In a statement the government said the pause would give the regulator more time to examine current applications and address service quality problems in the education provider.
Vocational education teaching (VET) and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) are subject to this regulation.
RMIT student Minh Anh said the policy created mixed reactions among international students.
“It’s good that the government protects Australia’s reputation by eliminating ghost institutions. But it creates anxiety for international students. Some of my friends feel anxious because they (Australia) focus on stricter migration control,” Minh Anh said.
Senior education consultant from SW Education, Natalie Tran, said the suspension was meant to improve the quality of the system, not to limit the choice of international students.
“The most important thing people should understand about this government suspension is that the intention is not to stop genuine international students from coming to Australia,” she said.
“The main focus is to improve the integrity and quality of the international education sector by targeting providers that may be misusing the student visa system or failing to deliver appropriate education outcomes”.
The suspension does not affect public education providers, including government schools, TAFE and Australia’s major public universities.
Approved education providers are still able to add new campuses and update existing courses.
Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill said “Australia’s continued success as a destination of choice for international students requires a ruthless focus on quality, integrity and student experience.”
The suspension is the Labor’s effort to scrutinise the market and close down illegal institutions.
As the suspension is now affecting small colleges and private training organisations, international students are advised to check the background of the institutions before enrolling.
“Students should check whether the institution is CRICOS-registered, review its reputation, understand graduate outcomes, compare tuition fees realistically, and seek advice from qualified education agents or official university representatives,” Ms Tran said.
Ms Tran said that under the regulation, the international education sector will experience significant improvement.
“Strong universities and reputable providers will likely remain stable, while weaker providers may face increasing pressure or exit the market,’” Ms Tran said.
(Featured image: VY NGUYEN) Students at Swinburne University campus on Friday 29 May. International students can still access public universities.
