The Koala wishes to thank readers for the overwhelming response to yesterday’s story:
It outlines how the University of Wollongong has commenced withdrawing the Confirmation of Enrolment of students who are “unlikely to meet new criteria to obtain a positive visa outcome.”
The Koala Colony has been in overdrive and, as a result, can confirm that UOW is not the only institution withdrawing eCOES. LaTrobe University has also been engaged in the practice with the following being acquired by The Koala:
Sources tell the Koala, a university in the west is likely to join imminently. Another email that has been provided to the Koala is as follows:
Confusion and in some form, chaos appear to be key themes across those the Koala has spoken to recently. One provider said, “We looked at last January’s student numbers and this January’s students’ numbers and analysed the cohorts: same agents, same markets. Very little has changed at our end, we aren’t aware of any rule changes, but something has changed – we have 10x the visa refusals.”
Another provider said “imagine driving a car in 100km speed zone and then being pulled over for exceeding 60. You’re sitting right next to the 100 sign and getting a ticket. That’s what’s going on here. It’s crazy!”
Nishi Borra, President of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI), told The Koala, ”The welfare of students is being ignored, and students are not being treated fairly. There is a need to address market fairness and protect student’s rights and also offshore education agents’ reputation.
“While the university can any time cancel the COE if they find that the student has any fraud submission or misleading claims. And if there was a lapse in their own admission or GTE vetting system.”
But asking the students to withdraw without any reason is not the way ” What’s the students’ fault ?” he said.
He makes a very good point.
With Universities and private colleges alike unsure of the visa playing field many in the sector are calling for a roadmap to be drawn up.
If the government wants fewer students, then put a cap on, and be transparent. It is unfair that visa slowdowns and increased rejection rates as top down measures are being employed, rather than a transparent and open mechanism that the sector can follow.
It isn’t lost on the Koala that this is Australia’s fourth-largest export, and the Government is blowing it up.
