This year's federal budget's focus on enhancing the international education sector's reputation for quality has been welcomed by the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA).
"Many of the commitments being made by the Australian Government in the international education sector deliver core recommendations from the recent migration review. This has been broadly welcomed and ITECA looks forward to working with the Australian Government to ensure that the reforms support independent skills training and higher education providers that have a demonstrated commitment to quality," said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
Independent skills training and higher education providers support 55% of the more than 746,000 international student enrolments studying with Australian institutions in 2022, something that signifies the budget's importance to ITECA members.
"ITECA members are focused on the issues raised in the context of the recent migration review and progressing the positive reforms that were raised in that final report. While the absence of clear and detailed measures flowing from that review in this budget is disappointing on one level, it is a sign that the government recognises these are complex issues that require consultation and engagement with the sector," Mr Williams said.
Similarly, ITECA has welcomed the formalisation of the extension of post-study work rights for students with eligible qualifications from 1 July 2023.
"We're looking forward to working with the government on the complexities raised in the review as we highlight the issues raised by ITECA members with a demonstrated commitment to delivering quality student outcomes," Mr Williams said.
ITECA members are hoping that this budget paves the way to allowing independent tertiary education providers with a commitment to quality to play a more substantive role in sustaining a strong and vibrant onshore international student body that's fully committed to their studies.
