in focus 22 February 2010

The link between education and immigration continues to attract media attention and widespread commentary, not all of it informed and not all of it constructive. It is alarming that so many institutions with a long history of providing high class education and training to domestic and international students continue to be put at risk by a lack of policy coordination and planning in this area.

 

That the link between migration and education would change has been clear for some time but to announce changes to skilled migration policy without providing the centrepiece of this policy, a new Skilled Occupations List, has left many Members, students and employees in limbo. Our calls for the release of a draft list to provide some direction for businesses are yet to receive a response, but ACPET’s criticism of the Government’s actions received plenty of coverage, including a segment on Lateline Business - http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/business/items/201002/s2813797.htm.

 

Central to Australia’s push for skill broadening and skill deepening will be the Specialised Occupations List to be released by Skills Australia in April. Those looking for a signal as the kinds of skills that are likely to be given priority should refer to the criteria outlined in a Skills Australia’s Fact Sheet released this week http://www.skillsaustralia.gov.au/PDFs_RTFs/QANewSOL.pdf.

 

In the face of these changes, we continue to implement our Quality and Market Development strategies. Planning is well underway for the introduction of new arrangements to protect student fees for local and overseas students in a way that rewards sustainable business models. An outline of our plans for revised tuition assurance arrangements is available for information and feedback. Implementation of these arrangements will begin immediately with a pilot program in March. Members wishing to participate in this pilot are invited to email me (Andrew [dot] Smith [at] acpet [dot] edu [dot] au (click here to email Andrew Smith)) their interest.

Details of market development activities designed to increase private sector activity will be outlined in future articles

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me at (Andrew [dot] Smith [at] acpet [dot] edu [dot] au (click here to email Andrew Smith)) to discuss any of the above or to provide your ideas and input into the ongoing development of the Council.