Australia has cut down by half the skilled shortage list from 400 to 100, the move is expected to help change the profile of those heading for Australia.
Talking to FE, Peter Varghese, Australia’s high commissioner to India, said, ?we want to separate education from the labour market, and these are driven by Australia’s needs.?
Responding to a question, the Varghese pointed out, ?The cutting down in the list of the skilled occupation list will have an impact on the issues that we have had involving Indians being targeted.? The earlier list of the Skilled Occupation List was supply driven, but now the government wants to make it demand driven, Varghese said. ?Courses, including hair dressing, cooking, tailoring etc, are now off the list,? said senior officials.
There has been a 60-70% drop in applications from Indian students to Australia in the year. It is significant, especially since Australia was emerging as a major draw in the past few years. ?The issue of students’ safety is not the sole reason for the drop. There have been certain policy changes in Australia, especially with regard to skilled migration, from July 1, 2010. Also, the strengthening of the Australian dollar makes education a bit more costlier. The visa procedure tightening has also led to higher rejection of student visas,? Varghese said.
These changes have seen a drop in international students and India has also shown a similar trend. In 2010, a landmark initiative to constitute the India-Australia Education Council had been agreed on by India and Australia.