Enrolment caps must be set in a clear, transparent and consistent manner that is “provider-agnostic”, according to the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body representing independent providers in the skills training, higher education, and international education sectors.
Although it opposes placing caps on international enrolments as a matter of principle, if the government does implement caps, ITECA has called for all institutions, regardless of whether they are public or private, to be subject to the same conditions.
“It’s imperative that there be a sound and transparent rationale for (government) decision making and that any such decision making is agnostic as to provider type,” said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive, it is “fundamental to maintaining fairness across the sector and upholding Australia’s reputation as a global leader in international education”.
ITECA’s concern follows the Group of Eight submission to the draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework calling for no caps on international students for public providers, universities and TAFE only. And as previously covered by TKN’s analysis of the first reading of the ESOS Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, the Minister may specify a total enrolment limit “that will apply to a class of providers”, meaning the private sector could be singled out.
ITECA is also calling for the government to finalise arrangements at the “soonest opportunity”, calling out the long lead times involved in recruitment activity.
