University enrolments up for Navitas

Global education services provider Navitas has grown its university partnership student enrolments by 6 per cent for the 2018 financial year, while enrolments in its migrant English program have dropped.

Navitas said enrolments in its university partnership division increased by 3 per cent to about 19,600 for its first semester this year, compared with the previous corresponding period.

Enrolments in Australian and New Zealand colleges increased by 4 per cent, while enrolments in the UK increased by 6 per cent, driven by European Union students seeking to study in the UK.

Enrolments in North America increased by 2 per cent, largely driven by strong growth for Canadian colleges offset by a continued fall in the US due to growth in visa rejection rates and its current political climate.

While enrolments in Asia and Africa combined were down by 3 per cent.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation at Navitas's careers and industry division will likely decrease by $14 million for the 2018 financial year as enrolments in its adult migrant English program continue to decline.

Navitas chief executive officer David Buckingham said growth for the university partnership division was solid and took Navitas just above stated 2020 growth targets.

However, enrolment growth in Australia had slowed, he said.

“We are actively working with the sector to support a rebalancing of the SSVF framework to enhance the sustainability of Australia’s international education sector,” Mr Buckingham said.

“The US remains challenging but is the number one destination for international students and we continue to support the internationalisation objectives of our partner universities.

“Canada continues to grow strongly though we are close to capacity at both colleges.

“The ongoing improvement in UK student enrolments is encouraging though more meaningful changes to immigration policy will need to occur for sustained growth.”