Media release

New Measures on International Student Safety and Welfare in Australia - Australian High Commission.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Education, Ms Julia Gillard, today welcomed the collaborative approach agreed to at a meeting of all of Australia’s Federal, State and Territory Education and Training Ministers to improve the international student experience in Australia.

Ministers condemned the recent incidents involving international students which have compromised students’ belief in Australia as a safe and welcoming country. Ministers are united in their commitment to ensure that all international students and their families know that Australia will not tolerate discrimination or victimisation of students who are guests in our country.

The Australian Government is committed to providing the highest quality education system and providing international students with the support they need while studying. As part of this commitment:

• An International Student Taskforce has been established to develop strategies to support the wellbeing of overseas students. This complements the work of the Taskforce established by Australia’s Prime Minister to address crimes against international students.
• The Deputy Prime Minister announced the establishment of a national student hotline - 1300 363 079 - to address any student concerns.
• The Deputy Prime Minister announced a fast track review of Australia’s legislation for the provision of education services to international students.
• The Australian Government has written to each education provider in Australia emphasising their legal obligations and the critical role they play in ensuring a positive experience for international students.

These initiatives will support the International Student Roundtable announced by the Deputy Prime Minister in her Statement to Parliament on 26 May 2009.

The Australian Government is committed to providing a high quality, welcoming, safe and rewarding experience for all Indian students.

International Student Safety & Welfare - The Hon. Julia Gillard MP
The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today welcomed the collaborative approach agreed by education and training Ministers to improve the international student experience in Australia and announced a number of initiatives to promote and protect their welfare.

Australia welcomes students from more than 190 countries every year. Most report that they are satisfied with both their education and social experiences.

The Australian Government is taking steps to ensure international students and their families remain confident that Australia will not tolerate discrimination or the victimisation of students who are guests in our country.

Close consultation with the international student community is continuing across all levels of government. The Minister has welcomed the work of state police with the Indian community to address recent concerns regarding student safety.

The Australian Government is committed to providing the highest quality education system and providing international students with the support they need while studying.
As part of this commitment, an International Student Taskforce has been established to develop strategies to support the wellbeing of overseas students. It will also work with the taskforce established by the Prime Minister to address crimes against international students.

At today’s Joint Ministerial Council meeting, all Ministers agreed that comprehensive information about studying, living and working in Australia is essential to improve international student experiences.

To ensure Indian students departing for study in Australia have up-to-date information to help them settle into their Australian life and study, the Australian High Commissioner to India has today published the 3rd edition of the Australian Government’s Guide to Studying and Living in Australia. It will be provided to each new student who obtains a visa to study in Australia.

The Minister has announced the establishment of a student hotline - 1300 363 079. Students can anonymously raise concerns which will be collated and published on www.studyinaustralia.gov.au  so that all students can benefit from this information.

The Minister also announced that the Government is fast tracking a planned review of the legal framework for the provision of education services to international students. The review will now commence in 2009-10 and will examine the operation of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the associated national code.

Obligations under the ESOS Act were highlighted in a letter to education providers today. The letter from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations outlined the critical role they play in ensuring a positive experience for international students that meets the high standards expected of Australia and its education system.

These initiatives will support the International Student Roundtable announced by Minister Gillard in her Statement to Parliament on 26 May 2009 and the Study in Australia 2010 program announced on 16 March 2009.

These strategies are part of the Australian Governments strong commitment to providing a high quality, welcoming, safe and rewarding experience for all international students.

Joint Communique - Australian Ministerial Council, Hobart Australia
from the Australian Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs & Australian Ministerial Council for Vocational & Technical Education Meeting on 12 June, Hobart, Australia

International students are welcome in Australia. They provide a diversity and richness to our education and training institutions and enrich the communities in which they live. Now and in the future, Australia grows as a nation as a result of students coming here and Australians studying abroad.

Ministers today welcomed a number of international students to listen directly to their views. Ministers also heard today from representatives of Universities Australia and the Australian Council of Private Education and Training and acknowledge their important role in providing a rewarding study experience.

Ministers condemn recent incidents involving international students which have compromised their belief in Australia as a safe and welcoming country. Ministers are united in their commitment to ensure all international students and their families remain confident that Australia will not tolerate discrimination or victimisation of students who are guests in our country.

Ministers acknowledged the need for a coordinated approach between all jurisdictions to provide the best possible experiences and outcomes for international students.

Ministers agreed that comprehensive information about studying and living and working in Australia is essential to improve international student experiences, including their safety and life in their community. Addressing these information needs will be a priority. Better information will minimise risks to students’ safety and ensure if their safety is threatened or infringed, students get the help they need. It will also ensure that overseas students are fully aware of their employment rights and Australia’s workplace laws and where to go for assistance with employment matters. Ministers will also consider how to ensure overseas education agents are reputable and responsible in the advice they provide.

All Ministers are committed to enhancing the quality of our education and training system to deliver high quality, internationally recognised courses that maximise international students’ experiences and outcomes. This will be achieved through renewed emphasis by registration authorities and the Australian Government to address quickly any issues of the quality of education and training providers in their jurisdiction. Ministers have agreed that to achieve this, targeted audits of providers will be undertaken as a matter of priority. In addition, there will be joint action by all governments to design and implement the announced Tertiary Education Standards and Quality Agency. All Ministers support the bringing forward of the review of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 to commence in 2009-2010.

Today’s agreement ensures all Australian governments are actively working together, in partnership with education providers and the community, to meet the challenges of an increasingly dynamic international education environment. Ministers have tasked the Joint Committee on International Education to urgently progress the actions agreed today so that the November 2009 Ministerial Council on Tertiary Education and Employment can agree any further actions to promote and protect Australia’s reputation as a safe destination for top-quality study and research.

Canada News

Fast Track Immigration Service Announced for Skilled Workers in High-Demand Jobs
Under the new reform, so long as applicants have at least one year of continuous paid work experience in any one of 38 work permit categories, their applications should be processed within six to twelve months. If their applications are in order, they should become accepted under the skilled worker immigration class as permanent residents. Applicants who aren't eligible for the federal skilled worker category may qualify under another category."

USA NEWS

Rise in Foreign Student Enrolment
The 2007-2008 academic year saw a 7% increase in the enrolment of foreign students in US colleges, representing a 6% increase from the previous high set in the 2002-2003 academic year.

UK NEWS

Reminder for UK educational institutions sponsoring international students
On 19 December 2008 the UKBA made a further announcement regarding the Student Tier 4 of the points system to be introduced in March 2009. Under the new points based system educational institutions will have to be licensed to sponsor students.

GLOBAL NEWS

Denmark studies immigration of Indian IT workers
The Danish Immigration Service (DIS) undertook a fact finding mission to New Delhi and Bangalore, India between 04 May and 14 May 2008. They discovered that over 65 percent of applicants under its Job Card Scheme are IT professionals, with a majority of them coming from India. A total of 1,745 residence permits were granted under the Job Card Scheme in 2007. Over 1,200 were for IT professionals -- 902 of which were granted to Indian nationals. A large number of business visas were also issued to Indians -- approximately 3,900 in 2007 alone.

Immigration policies such as the already mentioned Job Card Scheme, as well as its successful Danish Green Card scheme, make Denmark one of the hidden jewels for highly skilled Indians -- and highly skilled workers from all over the globe -- looking to live and work in the European Union.