Review of Australian student visa announced

Australia, 17th December: A review of Australian student visas has been announced by Chris Bowen, the Australian immigration minister and Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations.

In addition, a new package has also been announced for the international education industry of the nation.

The sector has been feeling pressurized recently due to the rising value of the national currency of Australia, tough competition from nations like Canada, the US and New Zealand for foreign students and the affect of the economic slowdown, stressed Senator Evans.

The Australian universities, which are dependent on the fees of the foreign students to a great extent, have been urging the Australian government to review the Australian student visa norms. They have been putting the blame of a sharp decline in the foreign student enrolments on the recent changes introduced in the Australian student visa rules that made the study in Australia very expensive for foreign students.

Earlier this year, the government of Australia had increased the total required amount to be shown by the international students as a proof for supporting their living in Australia.

Speaking about the new changes, Evans said that the international education industry has undergone a dramatic change in the period of last 10 years and hence it becomes imminent on the part of Australian government to introduce certain appropriate changes.

Immigration minister Bowen stated that these measures aim to control the declining number of enrolments of foreign students for studying in Australia and will help in identifying a better policy for Australian student visas.

Talking about the changes in the Australian student visa rules, Bowen said that the purpose is to manage the risks involved in the Australian student visa route and to help stop the abuse of the system. He also highlighted on consideration of the suitability of different Australian visas for various education sectors.

Michael Knight, a former labor politician from NSW was appointed as head of the review and is required to report to Senator Evans and Mr. Bowen by mid-2011. He will recommend effective agenda between requirements and key players for applicants of student visas.