Declining Foreign Student Numbers Worry Australia

In Australia, student visa applications are now starting the be on the decline. And many of the those in the foreign education sector worried that if the trend continues, it can have a negative effect on the industry. Thus, they are now urging the government to act on the situation. 

 

One of the biggest reasons for the decrease in the number of foreign students enrolling in the country is said to the changes in the student migration program that was made by the Department of immigration and Citizenship. It should be noted that the DIAC started the implementation of these changes since early last year. The biggest of these changes is the reorganization of the skilled occupation list, which resulted in the removal of a lot of jobs in the list. This, in turn, has affected he number of educational courses that can be granted a visa.

On the other hand, the stricter qualifications that the Department requires of student immigrants is also considered as another thing that has contributed to the decrease in the number of foreign student applicants lately. The most notable of these new qualifications has been the increase in the amount of funds needed before one can be granted a student visa. The stricter requirement for English proficiency has also been a major problem for those students coming from non-English speaking countries, like India and China.

Because of these, many foreign students are asking the government to act in order to give them the chance to get into the country. According to current Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans, the downturn of foreign student numbers is indeed quite alarming. He noted that the foreign education sector is one of the biggest industries in the country today, totaling to more than $18 billion annually. He added that this has been one of the country's top priorities in recent years.

Thus, he emphasized that both the government and the private education sector must closely cooperate in order to attract more foreign students into the country. Evans made this statement while meeting with education representatives in Beijing last month. China still remains one of the country's biggest clients when it comes to foreign students, comprising 27 percent of the entire population. However, the number of Chinese enrollments have been declining in the last few months.

However, Evans also said that he will still stand by the changes made in student migration program. He said that these are essential to safeguard the quality of the country's education system. He also urged foreign students to increase their efforts in order to get in. 

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Embark On A Great Career In The Australian Education Sector

If you are looking for a job, then you might want to check out the universities in Australia. These educational centers are in fact some of the biggest employers of foreign staff in the country. And you will find that the field to be quite lucrative.

It should be noted that the land down under is often considered as one of the top educational centers in the world today. Indeed, all of its major universities have in fact are in the top positions in the world rankings in the last few years. This in turn makes them even more attractive to foreign students looking fro quality education.

there are many independent sectors in Australia that give out vocational training to students.

And this is where the universities' search for more staff comes in. as the number of both local and foreign student enrollments continue to grow in the last few years, the institutions need more personnel to handle them. And while Australian schools get the bulk of their staff from the local population, they are also always on the lookout for foreign personnel.

Teachers and professors are probably the biggest chunk of the workforce hired by schools from oversees. In particular, teachers specializing in foreign communication and language are the most popular ones being sought. Coming in a close second are technical teachers, including engineering experts and computer programmers. Here, both lower level lecturers and those focusing on advanced studies have equal chances of getting in.

Aside from teachers, researchers are also another group of education professionals routinely hired by universities and colleges. Their work are not only limited to teaching students, as they are also involved in the researches conducted by the universities. They are also regularly allowed by their parent institutions to work as research consultants for both private and public companies and organizations. This, in turn, adds greatly to their income.

Aside from those directly involved in the teaching profession, the various universities and colleges in the country also regularly hires people for staff duties. Rank and file positions are probably the most common ones being contracted. On the other hand, higher level positions, such as department heads, counselors and administration staff are also pooled.

In terms of income, working in the Australian education sector may not earn you big as compared to other sectors, but the wages here are more than adequate to meet your needs. This is aside from the wide variety of benefits that you will receive all throughout your career. So if you are still deciding, then you might want to give Australian universities a second look.

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Whales, Australia's Marine Treasures

But professionals and amateur biologists know that there are a lot to study in Australia. Almost everybody know that the country's wildlife is very diverse. And this is one of the reasons why a lot of nature lovers head to the country yearly.

One of the most popular attractions for tourists in the country are the numerous whale species that inhabit the oceans that circle the continent. Since Australia lies in the major migration routes of these marine animals, they are actually a common sights in the waters off the country's coasts all year round. Also there are several whale populations that since made this region of the oceans their permanent home.

The western part of the country is one of the best spots to see these magnificent creatures. Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia is one of the most notable whale watching places in the area. On the other side of the continent, the state of Queensland is also another popular spot for whale watchers. Particular spots include the islands located on the Great Barrier Reef. There are also occasional whale sightings near the Sydney Harbor, so those in the city might as well try and catch a glimpse of them.

And of course, a lot of people would want to know what kinds of whales that one can expect to see hear. The list is actually quite extensive, however, there there are particular ones that you can expect to get a glimpse of. There are several species of sperm whales that cross Australia's waters regularly and if you want to see a big one, then the majestic blue whale (the largest animal in the world) also makes frequent visit to the continent. There are also several dolphin species that are frequent residents in the the country's waters.

However, many people are worried that these whales might not last long for watchers to see. As it is, there are many things that threaten the existence of these creatures in Australia. One of the biggest of these is the pollution that is occurring in some regions around the country. There are also incidents where humans encroach on the whales' activities.

Because of these concerns, the Australian government has sought to act and protect these magnificent creatures. The states have enacted several laws aimed at protecting these creatures. There are also several studies being conducted to determine what human activities affect the whale population the most and how these can be controlled. The government is confident that the whale watching public will help in the effort.

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Australia Riding High On The Jobs Boom

If you talk about Australia, working visa holders would definitely be very excited. As it is, the country is very much in an economic boom lately, which means that there are a lot of job openings available. And according to experts, it is likely that the boom will continue for the next few years.

It is interesting to note that the Australian jobs market, along with that of other countries, fell significantly during the financial crisis that hit the world in 2007. However, as it was able to put up a comprehensive mitigation plan for the crisis, it was able take the full effect head on. And because of this, it was one of the first few countries that was able to quickly recover.

 Australian Immigration Online Assessment is designed to instantly determine if you may be eligible to apply for immigration to Australia. The Online Assessment incorporates criteria set by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

Along with this recovery was the need to get more workers. And this is where the current jobs boom comes in. As the companies start to regain their footing, they have also started to hire new workers to fill in their need. And as one has already known, Australia's population is not that sufficient to handle the jobs boom.

And this is why a lot of companies are clamoring for more immigrants to come in. in response to that, the Australian government, through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, have started to review the country's immigration regulations and implement changes. The changes were actually started last year, right at the time the country was still starting to recover from the crisis. These changes are aimed to pool the incoming immigrants to find the ones that are most suitable for the country's needs.

Another thing that the Australian government is pushing for is distributing more workers to the areas that need them the most. These include regions that are outside the major commercial centers and in the central provinces. However, one of the major dilemmas facing the government is encouraging people to move into these areas. With that in mind, they are now starting to consider giving incentives to those who wish to move in.

The companies themselves have already started on this one. Many are now offering lucrative deals to entice workers from other countries to head to Australia. Some of these include residential accommodations, as well as other benefits. On the other hand, large wages are still a primary attraction that many companies offer. And with the amount of immigrants coming into the country to work. It seems that all their efforts are indeed paying off.

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Australia Pushes To Safeguard Its Foreign Students

 

Many people have traveled a lot in order to get an education in Australia. This one is actually not that surprising, since the country has long been considered as one of the best in terms of education. And according to experts, it is likely that the number of foreign students enrolling in the country will continue to grow in the years to follow.

Here, one of the groups that has the largest population in the country are those coming from India. In fact, with more than a hundred thousand students enrolled in the various colleges and universities in the country, this means that they make up the bulk of Australia's current foreign student population . And with more people lining up in the embassies to get their student visas, it is likely that their numbers will grow in the months to come.

However, it has not been always easy sailing for Indian students in the country. In the past few months alone, there have been several incidents that have greatly affected the Indian student, as well as the whole foreign student, community. And this has greatly affected their trust in Australia.

Some of the biggest of these incidents were the several attacks against Indian students this year. It should be noted that similar such attacks also happened last year, prompting several widespread protests from the foreign student community. And while not all of the incidents were determined to be racially motivated, this has left many Indian students wondering if they are indeed being targeted for such reasons.

And to make matters worse, the new immigration rules that were implemented last year also affected many foreign students, including Indians. While the purpose of the new laws was to better organize the student migration program, many students felt that these are limiting their chances of getting into the country. Thus, they are clamoring for a loosening of these rules.

In response to all the questions, the Australian government have said that they are now putting up new measures to ensure the safety of the foreign student community. They have also said that they are now pursuing cases against those who are responsible for the attacks. With regards to the immigration laws, officials said that these are necessary in order to protect the country. However, they said that those who are indeed qualified to study in Australia are guaranteed to get in easily.

Government officials also reiterated the importance of foreign students to Australia. They said that, aside from the obvious economic benefits, foreign students also serve as a bridge for better understanding between Australia and their home countries.

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