West Australia eyes greater Indian interest

A jump of 114 per cent is expected in the number of student applications from India.

Western Australia is expecting a jump of 114 per cent in the number of student applications from India. Last year, 10,000 Indian students pursued courses in various universities and colleges in western Australia.

"We are expecting a 114 per cent growth in the number of applications from Indian students. Recent tie-ups between University of Western Australia and the IITs of Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai for students exchange programmes would further boost our Indian student inflow," says Jamal Qureshi, South-Asia regional marketing manager for Perth Education City in India.

"We are also looking at more such tie-ups with Indian universities since we plan to increase our student intake from India," he adds.

So far, 30 students from IIT Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai have completed 3-week research-based exchange programmes at the University of Western Australia. Each of these students was offered $1000 to cover living costs while education was provided for free.

In West Australia, a majority of Indian students opt for post-graduate programmes. Last year, of the 10,000 students who went to study in West Australia, four were granted full scholarships while the remaining received scholarships between 10 and 25 per cent.

"Students are also allowed up to 20 hours of part time work per week and could earn $12-$25 per week. The part-timers usually take up jobs in restaurants and as pizza delivery agents," Qureshi said. Post completion of studies, freshers usually find jobs that pay a salary of $40,000 per annum.

Western Australia has five universities as well as other colleges and vocational training establishments that attract approximately 33,000 foreign students from 75 countries annually.

"Employment opportunities for students are plenty due to several booming industries in western Australia right now. These include manufacturing and services, agribusiness, food and beverages, minerals and energy, where students could easily find jobs. Several new industries are also opening up which would recruit heavily. Moreover, there is an overall shortage of manpower across industries which is why we are bullish on more Indian students coming to west Australia to study and take up jobs here," says Qureshi.

This is supported by the fact that in the past three years the government of Western Australia has welcomed a number of Indian companies to invest in the economy. They include the Oswal Group, the Birla Group and ONGC, and there are others in the pipeline.

Continuous employment guarantee by western Australia is also on the basis of the fact that it has 80 per cent of Australia's extensive gas reserves and provides 100 per cent of the country's exports of LNG, thereby leaving more room for recruitment every year.

Other opportunities like software technology relating to gold mining is also a booming sector and is on a hiring spree since about 50 per cent of all software technology relating to gold mining around the world is sourced from Western Australia.