Trying to make the right moves

Updated on: Monday, October 12, 2009

Once a popular destination for Indian
students, Australia has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, at least as far as education is concerned. With the embattled AUS $15.5 billion overseas student industry in Australia bracing for rough times, a lot of brouhaha has taken place what with the Australian Government assuring students of compensation in case their universities are closing down. Even Australian Education Minister Julia Gillard stressed that “if an international student is enrolled in a college that closes for whatever reason, we will find them a comparable place to complete their course or we will refund their fees.”
The vicious attacks on Indian students have not made the situation any better. Now in the latest move to establish the country as a safe education destination for foreign students, the Australian Government has taken a number of initiatives. These include opening up a 24-hour student care centre and bolstering laws against racially motivated crimes, informed John Brumby, Premier of Victoria and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Government of Victoria, Australia.

Speaking at an industry event session in New Delhi, Brumby said that the Australian
Government would soon submit a detailed follow-up report on the action taken against the perpetrators of the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia. Inviting the young Indian flock of students to return, Brumby said the country, especially Victoria boasts some of the best universities in the world.

Brumby also spoke about the scholarship
programme initiated for international students in Australia, of which inaugural scholarships would be given to four Indian students. “The Victorian Government will award five Victorian and five Indian undergraduate and high-level vocational education training students scholarships this year, as part of a new International Exchange Scholarship programme,” he said, expressing an interest in building partnerships between Indian and Australian Universities.
However, with all the negative publicity that Australia has been getting, student enrolment
figures have fallen drastically. And despite the lure of scholarships, students quite rightly are worried about their fate Down Under. So the figures could still continue to decline and
eventually start hurting the Australian economy.

Trying to make the right moves

More Education news