Independent skills training and higher education providers which supported more than 57% of all international student enrolments in Australia in 2023 require more detail on what the Australian Government is proposing with respect to international student allocations for next year. That's the view of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) following feedback from members.
In an announcement today, the Australian Government has advised that subject to the passage of legislation before the parliament, it will set a National Planning Level (NPL) for new international student commencements of 270,000 for calendar year 2025. The NPL is divided between the higher education and international education sectors.
"On one hand, the establishment of the National Planning Level is welcome but what's required is further advice to providers on what it means to them," said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
For independent universities and for non-university higher education providers, in aggregate, their new international student commencements in 2025 will be a total of 30,000. For the skills training sector, the limit is understood to be 95,000 new international student commencements in 2025.
"The sector-wide limits need to be accompanied by immediate and precise information to ITECA members about what it means for them in their context. They need this so they can provide meaningful advice to their staff whether they will still have jobs and to intending students seeking news on the possibility of them being able to study in Australia next year," Mr Williams said.
ITECA is critical of the Australian Government's approach to international education which has been drip fed through the media rather than through meaningful engagement with the sector.
"Right now, when contemplating the future of their institution and the jobs of their staff, all our members have is a government media release. This is a less than satisfactory state of affairs," Mr Williams said.
ITECA has sought urgent clarification from the Australian Government on the detail of its announcement so that institution-level data can be provided to its members in the skills training and higher education sectors.
Ends. Troy Williams - High Resolution Photograph [
