In a bid to cleanse its cash rich overseas education industry, the Victorian government in Australia is pushing for a new law to give more powers to regulators to randomly hold inspections and issue on spot fines to dodgy private institutes operating in the state.
The John Brumby Government is pressing the Commonwealth to amend rules to weed out shonky colleges, provide overseas students with more support, and enhance the quality of tertiary courses.
According to a report in 'The Age', state government, in its submission to Federal Government's review of the $15.5 billion international education sector, has suggested giving state regulators power to randomly inspect private colleges and issue immediate penalties for those found in breach of the law.
"Private colleges would also be required to sign new International Student Enrolment Contracts with students to secure their rights, and every Australian agent would have to register with the Federal Government and be subject to a 'fit and proper person' test in a bid to stop students from being exploited when they were enrolled or transferred into a course," it said.
The submission will form part of Baird review of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act, which is due to report back to the Federal Government later this month.
Headed by former Liberal MP Bruce Baird, the review is aimed at improving the international education industry after months of outcry over violent attacks against international students, particularly Indians, and allegations of corrupt practises by some colleges.
Victoria's submission said that while the act "functions adequately in the main" the rapid rise in the number of international students in Australia meant it was out of date and in need of an overhaul.
It also recommended extending the time students must spend at a college from six to 12 months in a bid to prevent colleges "poaching" students, Streamlining the complaint process, which is regarded as too complex for students, giving students more information about private providers before they choose colleges and a single insurance scheme for students, to replace the two schemes that now exist.