Victorian Premier concerned over drop in enrolments

Updated on: Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has said he is keen to rebuild strong educational ties with India by assuring safer environment for them.

"We certainly concerned because the industry is significant for the Victorian economy and we have been concerned on variety of fronts. Some time ago there was issue of violence against International students and we sought to have greater security around international students," Ted Baillieu said.

"We were concerned when Commonwealth intervened and changed visa arrangements. And those changes did aggravate the problem and obviously Australian dollar also impacted," the premier told.

The state's cash rich International education industry has been relying on high enrolments figures number from India which have dropped considerably in the backdrop of student violence issues, high Australian dollar value and stricter visa rules.

Indian student enrolment in Australia has declined by almost half following turmoil in its international education sector, legislative changes and global financial crisis.

In 2008-09, 65,503 Indian passport holders were granted Australian student visas across all education sectors. But in 2009-10, the number fell to just 29,721. Overall, 50,540 fewer international students were granted visas to study in Australia in 2009-10 compared with 2008-09.

He said that it was important to address the issue of visa arrangements for those students who have been impacted by the visa change.

"That concern has not been addressed and we think it is important that they are addressed," he added.

"We have more than 200,000 Indian background people in Victoria and it makes to sense to grow this relationship," the Premier said adding that the educational ties were vital component of the two sides ties.

"Education will maintain a very substantial component of the relationship of Victoria and India as it has traditionally," Baillieu said.

He said he was committed towards safety issues of any international student studying in the state.

Victorian Premier concerned over drop in enrolments

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