New Delhi – In a pivotal move, the Australian government has taken the decisive step of banning concurrent study, a practice that permitted students to concurrently enroll in cost-effective vocational courses alongside their primary academic pursuits. This ban is set to bring about significant changes in the landscape of international education in Australia.
This regulatory change is primarily aimed at closing a perceived loophole in the nation’s visa rules, which had previously enabled international students to enroll in vocational courses immediately upon their arrival in the country.
The impetus for this regulatory change was born out of recent investigations, revealing a notable misuse of concurrent study provisions by students who were forsaking their university programs in favor of permanently transitioning to less expensive vocational courses.
According to reports from Reuters, there has been a substantial upswing in concurrent enrollments during the first half of 2023, surpassing the combined figures for 2019 and 2022, with approximately 17,000 such enrollments recorded. Education Minister Jason Clare underscored that this change intends to curb the activities of opportunistic ‘second’ education providers, who have been enrolling students before they have completed the mandated six months at their initial institution.
Australia’s international education sector is the nation’s fourth-largest export industry, and safeguarding its integrity is of paramount importance to the country’s economy, Minister Clare emphasized.
Impact of the New Rule:
The new regulations will not affect international students who currently hold concurrent enrollments; however, new students seeking to enroll in a second course concurrently will face delays. They will need to wait for the initial six months of their primary course of study and secure approval from their educational institution to pursue two courses concurrently.
This rule change could potentially disrupt the graduation plans of affected students and make it more challenging for them to secure part-time employment to sustain themselves. Concurrent study had previously enabled students to prepare for the job market through shorter, complementary courses.
As Australia adapts to this new educational landscape, the repercussions on both international students and the nation’s educational institutions remain to be seen.
