PIER International Education Blog

Thanks for the useful post.

2011-02-28T20:05:46.058+10:00

Thanks for the useful post.

...

2011-01-20T15:17:17.246+10:00

IB schools in Mumbai are putting emphasis is on learning by doing real tasks that have real consequences and then reflecting on these experiences over time

Short but a nice post because of the way you prese...

2011-01-10T19:38:09.753+10:00

Short but a nice post because of the way you present it.

Distance University Online provides students some ...

2011-01-04T20:16:09.134+10:00

Distance University Online provides students some of the best programs from the best distance universities of America.

University Online

The Busin...

2010-12-22T16:18:52.415+10:00

The Business Management course helps to develop competitive strength in an Business enterprise. This course enables the Business enterprise to develop and expand its assets and profits.

The Dodgy Colleges still alive, and full of studen...

2010-11-17T13:08:31.454+10:00

The Dodgy Colleges still alive, and full of students, now, they are the sport courses. They "teach" surfing, martial arts and other courses. The students go 1 or 2 times a week, and have more time to OVER work. These colleges do not provide any advantage to be skilled or anything related to migration. The students basically "purchase time to stay in Australia". They have a gym that they can use, they have some theory, but there is no much seriousness in any of it. These schools have CRICOS approved programs, which is quite unbelievable, because they can actually protect themselves (the schools) because of the ESOS ACT 2000 -DEEWR - DIAC Course Progress Policy and- Procedures for CRICOS Providers of VET Courses, which allow them to have this format of course LEGALLY (NO ATTENDANCE REQUIRED) .
Most on-shore agents are feeling that 50% of their enrolments are going to the schools (if they are selling these courses), however, if there is an agent that does not want to support this type of schools, than this agent is doing the right thing by Australia, however, he or she is losing 50% of his business.
Ethically, is wrong, financially is correct to sell this courses. Should agents boycott these type of schools or keep contributing to the disgrace of the Education System in Australia?

Wayne, Fair comment and it's good to see that...

2010-11-04T10:48:42.677+10:00

Wayne,

Fair comment and it's good to see that the Migration Institute of Australia are getting more involved in the international education space.

Dear Chris Congratulations on your work. One of th...

2010-11-03T14:27:31.415+10:00

Dear Chris
Congratulations on your work.
One of the things that are major and are affecting us agents is the: ESOS ACT 2000
DEEWR - DIAC Course Progress Policy and
Procedures for CRICOS Providers of VET
Courses ( http://aei.gov.au/AEI/ESOS/QuickInfo/DIAC_Course_pdf.pdf )

This policy makes possible that the dodgy schools operate and have CRICOS allowing them to sell courses for International Students that are not legitimate, students that are not really interested in studying, but working. These schools are many and agencies do promote these VET dodgy schools, because they believe that because they have CRICOS they are ok.
However, they are not OK, and DEST, CRICOS, DIAC, and all the government bodies, cannot do anything, because this is protected by this policy ( http://aei.gov.au/AEI/ESOS/QuickInfo/DIAC_Course_pdf.pdf )
So, how can the reputation of the Australian Education System be strong, when students look for courses that they only attend 1 or 2 times a week, where they study Certificate I, II and III of Sports and Recreation, being accepted with no English proficiency or less than acceptable English proficiency? How can this be good to Australia and how can the GOOD schools survive, when they are losing a large chunk of the market for this dodgy VET schools?
How can this policy be changed and to be implemented 80% attendance as the ELICOS courses have?
Who should I write to?
Thanks Chris, I hope you can do something about it.

Regards

Alain Daniel Ruthenberg Bcomm (Bond), MBA (Bond)
adruth@australiago.com
Qualified Education Agent Counselor QEAC No: F079
www.australiago.com

From our involvement with both International Stude...

2010-11-02T17:21:48.036+10:00

From our involvement with both International Students and other types of Australian Immigration Visas, one obvious area that would return massive benefits is for the Government and the Education Institutions to work more closely with the 4,000 plus Australian Registered Migration Agents http://www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/agent-stats/migration-agent-statistics.htm

It is a large, Professional, regulated Network that can be encouraged to be become more actively involved for the mutual benefits of all involved.

Wayne Harrison
http://www.australianimmigrationvisas.com.au
MARN 0901108

The education industry will experience some proble...

2010-10-19T21:36:07.366+10:00

The education industry will experience some problems in the future due to the strong Australian Dollar and also the tough visa conditions that limit or discourage prospect students to study in Australia.

Since this sector of the Australian Economy is one of the main sources of income for this country, the Government should take into account the current situation to ease a difficult situation that clearly will be faced by Education providers, agencies and many other businesses related to the international students market.

One is curious that for such a successful industry...

2010-10-10T21:11:59.207+10:00

One is curious that for such a successful industry the benefits had not been already obvious to the Australian public, politicians and media?

Unfortunately, an orchestrated public campaign has been ongoing for some years conflating issues of population, immigration, social cohesion, environment etc.; and international education has been included yet chose to remain silent and not defend its record, why?

Can take a generation to make a reputation (or market), and one electoral cycle to lose it for many years to come.....

I think that now parents and students are more cri...

2010-09-10T09:56:17.231+10:00

I think that now parents and students are more critical.
They want to be able to see education as an investment for the future. As for the post graduate studies, i think that most of them are also want to see the opportunities to be able to do some work while they are studying and also the opportunity to pursue further career in their country where they study.
I think that with the globalization, the country that open their door for International students to come to study need to open their door to give them the opportunity to pursue their career too.

It is definitely an issue of concern especially be...

2010-09-08T13:49:14.409+10:00

It is definitely an issue of concern especially because it is affecting or will affect the country's economy in the long run. The government can definitely reconsider its stance. Reducing student numbers will have an adverse effect on many aspects of Australia

I cannot believe how people react in the face of d...

2010-06-30T15:49:06.783+10:00

I cannot believe how people react in the face of diversity. International education programs are a phenominal way to promote greater understanding of cultures different than our own!

I love my job as a student counsellor for overseas...

2010-02-11T20:09:26.498+10:00

I love my job as a student counsellor for overseas studies and i have worked in this field for the past 4 years. but the last job that i held with a leading agency in india which sent studnets abroad, opened my eyes to a big time racket... called ...
FUNDS.

the so called students were unable even to pay for decent education in a decent college in india, unable to speak any other langauge aprt from their mother tongue, and above all unable to access that kind of money

To date i explain to my students that they are going on a student visa. to study, not to waste time cleaning plates and sweeping. Armed with a degree, and the will, there is nothing stopping a bright one from getting a good job.

but these agents would fake bank loan letters, fake property certificates, fool the authorities with a brand new PAN card and IT returns and assure the students that they can work, eran $30 per hour, and pay thier way through college.

they were assured of a PR.so these students went across, without money and to make some, worked illegal hours, stayed in run down places...........

i quit shortly after i realized what was happening. the current happenings had to happen at some point. i am sorry that the educational system was abused, i am ashamed of the fellow consultants here who acted like Judas, selling the student for 30 pieces of silver

i wish the checking would really be top class so as to catch the fraud and i wish PR is stopped for sometime, so that the student who enters australia is good and able to contribute to the economy of australia

Whether the crimes against Indaian students are ra...

2010-01-09T09:51:17.352+10:00

Whether the crimes against Indaian students are racially motivated or not, the lack of immediate action, is only going to fuel more speculation. I believe that the Australian government has to step up their efforts to the same degree they would expect from the Indian government if thre situation was reversed.

Indian students have told AM attacks on them are w...

2009-09-17T14:22:15.349+10:00

Indian students have told AM attacks on them are widespread and they are fearful to travel.It is very shyness and shows Australian's low mentality.

Needless to say, Andrew, I agree. The challenge of...

2009-08-17T08:55:51.881+10:00

Needless to say, Andrew, I agree. The challenge of comprehensively evaluating the international and/or domestic student experience has not to my knowledge been done. It would be a massive undertaking - but it could reveal just how well our current strategies match the real needs of our students. The Indian student experience shows us that the management of public perceptions can easily eclipse the facts, and at worst, fuel the flames. Addressing this issue for international students only would limit the quality and usefulness of this data.

Being a teacher i know how to trained students,its...

2009-07-23T18:05:33.819+10:00

Being a teacher i know how to trained students,its duty to their teachers to teach them and maintain their life style, and i think that was the wrong attitude as we are going to improve our life style in many fields of our life so there is some changes too in teaching, but the first step will always old and that is understanding.

2009-07-08T16:52:28.162+10:00

This comment has been removed by the author.

My concern is that there seems to be a culture in ...

2009-06-30T22:31:50.092+10:00

My concern is that there seems to be a culture in Australian education of not evaluating the whole education experience of international or domestic students.

It is an invaluable marketing and feedback tool that allows issues to be foreseen before they conflagarate into bigger issues e.g. Indian students' recent experience.

Thanks for providing us the information regarding ...

2009-06-19T23:08:07.875+10:00

Thanks for providing us the information regarding current issues about international education. It is my pleasure to read such an informative post.

Nice post giving information about the safety prog...

2009-06-16T20:15:57.645+10:00

Nice post giving information about the safety program for international students. Thanks for interesting writing.

As the marketing manager for a private RTO. I dea...

2009-05-29T09:36:14.915+10:00

As the marketing manager for a private RTO. I deal with Education ad Migration Agents on a daily basis and have now implemented a vetting system for all agents wishing to represent our Institute.I have over the past 8 months canceled over 5 agent agreements with us due to Agents not acting in an ethical manner withholding fees for students offering discounts on our courses and not providing correct information for students.As we now have approval for the new SIT training package. I have sent out all my agents new terms and conditions therefor making it much harder to become a representative. As we have now hit hard those RTO's how have been assisting these agents with SHADY deals,Those agents now seek other RTO's to provide the same underhanded deals as they were accustomed to and are not happy when i tell them we do not want them representing us and the abuse i receive is indescribably i have now added a privacy clause in all agreements allowing me the legal right to NAME THEN if all private RTO'S did the same we would have a far better Industry providing better opportunities for all international students. I wrote to the Immigration Minster several months ago stating my disgust at the lack of control of AGENTS unethical behavior and as we must act according to the conditions required By various government bodies such as VETAB and DIAC who is controlling these agent MARA does NOTHING good luck Mr EVANS in establishing this new AGENT BODY but i wont hold my breath. If you breath..Don't just through together some ancient education relics talk to those of us that deal with these agents every day .....

if Australia can't control these overseas agents w...

2009-05-03T17:47:00.000+10:00

if Australia can't control these overseas agents why still give them rights to act on behalf of students.

All visa issues should be direct to MARA agent's control, otherwise Australian agents are under very strict regulation while their overseas competitors are not, how can we compete?