The future of 1,500 Indian students is in limbo after the Victorian government has shut down 11 colleges in and around Melbourne because of their failure to comply with the regulations. This has affected as many as 3,824 international and domestic students, 40% of which are Indians.
?I was about to get my degree in a month?s time but before it could happen, the government has shut down the institute in which I was studying. This has left me with no option but to return to India without a degree for which I have paid lakhs,? said a weeping Indian student on the streets of Melbourne. There has been no commitment from the institute on whether or not we the fees would be refunded, he added.
The Australian government, however, it is trying its bit to re-accommodate these students and ensure that the education regulations are tightened and there is greater degree of supervision on vocational colleges, though it refused to share the exact number of Indian students affected.
?We are not in the business of selling visas but to maintain the quality of education, which is our third largest export, and hence we?ve asked the Indian government to have better regulatory handle on agents who send Indian students to Australia for vocational courses,? Simon Crean, Australian minister for trade told FE. The international education industry in Australia is worth $16.6 billion. ?We are trying to find legitimate institutes to re-accommodate the students here and are working on to bring some changes in education and immigration policies to ensure that these vocational courses do not become a device of immigration has have happened in the past,? Bill Fisher, senior director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
The trip was sponsored by the Australian government
Indian scientists, profs on board
In an attempt to deflect the heat over attacks on Indian students in Australia, the Victorian government is planning to now appoint Indian scientists and professors on board as well as in the advisory body of the Australia India Institute, which is a joint initiative of the Australian government, the Melbourne University, University of New South Wales and the La Trobe University.
?We are seeking collaboration from Indian professors in Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and the Delhi University and hope to get one of them on board of the institute, which is expected to be in place in the beginning of 2010, while two-three Indian professors are expected to join the advisory body of the institute,? John M Webb, deputy director, Australia India Institute told FE. There would be eight members on board of the institute while the advisory body will have 10 members.