As the 48th Parliament of Australia begins its first sitting week, the Innovative Research Universities (IRU) and Regional Universities Network (RUN) are on the front foot, releasing a joint international education statement and five-point plan aimed at delivering “a more sustainable and equitable education system that benefits all Australians”.
In their joint statement, IRU and RUN call for a “positive and principles-based approach to securing the future of Australia’s international education system” and commit to working constructively with government to support its achievement.
The plan outlines five key actions:
- A more managed and equitable approach to international student numbers for sustainable growth.
- Action on the cost of visa fees to support students and diversification.
- Renewed focus on quality and integrity.
- Improved data and transparency.
- A positive long-term strategy for our international education system.
A positive new approach is needed following the upheaval in international education policy in Australia in 2024, says IRU Executive Director Paul Harris.
“Changes to student visa processing and policy in 2024 disproportionately impacted our students and universities, and undermined equity and diversification,” he said.
RUN Chief Executive Officer Alec Webb echoed the call for reform, highlighting the need for coordinated national action.
“We need a genuinely collaborative approach to set policy and a proactive strategy that takes into account global changes and maximises the benefits of international education for all providers and for all communities across Australia. RUN and IRU are leading by example with our collaboration,” he said.
IRU and RUN also support the new Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) setting international student places as part of comprehensive university mission-based compacts in the future. However, they stress the need for clarity on the allocation for 2026 as soon as possible and do not support Ministerial-powers to intervene in university enrolments at individual course level.
The Government has said it will introduce legislation to amend the Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS) 2000 to strengthen integrity in the international education sector, combat the exploitation of overseas students, and address behaviours which seek to exploit the migration system. (TKN 170725).
IRU and RUN support the re-introduction of integrity measures and call for a reconsideration of recommendations they made in submissions regarding the 2024 ESOS Amendment Bill, noting that unethical practices and ‘course-hopping’ remain ongoing concerns.
Outbound mobility by Australian students, a replacement for the defunded Endeavour Scholarships and clarity on transnational education (TNE) and the role of universities and government are also covered in the joint statement’s call for a long-term strategy for international education.
The first education-related Bill to be introduced in Parliament this week will deliver on a key Labor election promise to cut domestic student debt by 20 per cent.
