In an effort to decrease annual migration, universities will be compelled to significantly reduce the number of international students they admit.
Universities are facing pressure to curb the influx of overseas students as part of a federal government initiative aimed at reducing annual migration to 260,000. Under this plan, universities and other educational institutions will be required to limit the growth in international student numbers, which soared by 15 per cent last year, to around 5 per cent, reports said.
The proposal has sparked concerns within the sector, prompting an urgent meeting scheduled for this morning, where four federal ministers will consult with the government’s expert advisory group on international education, a report in The Age said. The move comes amidst fears of significant intervention that could potentially harm the education sector.
With Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accusing Labor of failing to control migration, the government intends to use the upcoming federal budget to reassure voters that it can halve net migration from 528,000 to 260,000. The budget will also present Labor’s pathway to lower net migration, setting up a challenge for Dutton in his budget reply, the report further said.
The Age quoting an education official described universities as ‘‘sitting ducks’’ for the new policy, highlighting the government’s focus on curbing student numbers rather than reducing migration through other means. The surge in overseas students since 2022 has prompted a reevaluation within federal cabinet, leading to the drafting of new legislation granting Education Minister Jason Clare the authority to determine the intake of international students for each university.
Concerns have been raised about the potential overreach of the federal intervention by Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia. Meanwhile, inside the government, there is a belief that universities have benefited financially from the influx of international students without considering the broader impact on migration and population.
The total overseas student population in Australia has rebounded strongly, fueling community concerns about housing shortages and urban congestion. The government aims to reduce the growth rate of international student numbers to five per cent per year, subject to consultation with university leaders and stakeholders.
University chiefs have pushed back against the Labor agenda, citing the significant contribution of international students to the economy, The Age said. The government has released a draft framework to initiate consultations with the sector, with Universities Australia emphasising the need for collaboration in finalising the policy settings.
The student cap is central to the government’s broader migration agenda, following a reduction in offshore student visa grants to pre-pandemic levels. The budget will forecast a further decrease in net overseas migration from 528,000 to 395,000 this year and 260,000 next year, The Age report further stated.
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