In an attempt to step up their joint efforts to address issues affecting the 100,000 Indian students in Australia, both Indian and Australian governments will develop and conclude a memorandum of understanding on the better management of student mobility between the two countries, including the exchange of information on undesirable or illegal activities of agents, and other information relating to the quality of education providers and agents.
This was decided by the two countries’ Joint Working Group (JWG) on student mobility that met for the first time on 6 October. The JWG reaffirmed that issues affecting Indian students in Australia relate to ensuring quality among education agents and education providers and promoting best practices in the regulation and quality assurance of student movement between the two countries.
It was also decided that the two countries would collaborate in developing robust regulatory mechanisms for the activities of education providers and enrolment agents in India and Australia besides creating a registration system by the Indian government for Indian students travelling overseas to study.
“The International Students Strategy is being developed by the Council of Australian Governments under the leadership of the Prime Minister and Premiers of Australian States, which will tackle issues in the areas of provider quality, student accommodation, safety, employment and migration and a Review of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act is being conducted by Bruce Baird, a former federal and State Minister,” the joint statement said.
Moreover, a legislation is also under way to be introduced into the Australian Parliament which will require the re registration of all education providers able to enrol overseas students against tightened criteria by the end of 2010 and the production of a new manual for international students with comprehensive guidance about studying and living in Australia.
The meeting also agreed that an India–Australia Task force will fast track these issues and report to the group whose next meeting will take place in Australia in the second half of 2010.