SCU calls for ‘urgent action’ on student reforms Coffs Coast Nambucca Valley by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 28, 2024 Southern Cross University, which has a Coffs Harbour campus, stood to benefit from international student caps. SOUTHERN Cross University (SCU) is among regional institutions calling for urgent action to address the issues with the government’s planned international education reforms. In a surprise backflip, the Coalition last week sided with The Greens and Independents in opposing Labor’s proposed amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Those amendments included capping international student enrolments at 270,000 from 2025, a reduction of 30 percent. They also included the ability for the Minister of the day to prioritise regional placements. Education Minister Jason Clare estimated that under the reforms, SCU, which has a campus in Coffs Harbour, would have seen international student numbers increase from 698 in 2024 to 1300 in 2025 – an increase of 86 percent. “By getting into bed with the Greens, the National Party are betraying their local communities,” the Minister said in a statement. “Our caps will increase the number of international students at regional universities and reduce them in the big cities. That’s what the Nationals say they want.” Vice-Chancellor of SCU Professor Tyrone Carlin, who is also the chair of the Regional Universities Network (RUN), said “action must be taken now to address the unresolved issues associated with the ESOS Amendment Bill still before Parliament, the government’s proposed approach to international student caps, and inequities in the current student visa processing regime. “Leaving these issues unresolved until 2025 will not provide certainty – on the contrary, it will further undermine equity and diversification in Australia’s international education system, and unfairly punish some students, institutions and communities.” “Immediate action is required to address the current distorted system for visa processing. “We need a fairer system to ensure that no student or institution faces unfair disadvantages. “And we need confidence that visas will be processed efficiently to enable students to take up their places. “This must happen this week. If we wait any longer, it will be too late for many students hoping to commence study in our universities in 2025.” The News Of The Area also sought comment from the office of Nationals MP for Cowper Pat Conaghan. By Sue STEPHENSON
