Visa laws hamper study promotion

MORE stringent requirements for student visas are hampering the State Government’s push to market WA as an education destination.

Falling enrolment numbers in English colleges and institutions have prompted some industry operators to voice their concerns about WA’s competitive strength in both the domestic market and overseas.

In July, Premier Geoff Gallop launched a strategy to make WA an international hub of education services.

The strategy includes the development of an international branding campaign and a joint tourism and education marketing program.

Overseas students contribute an estimated $640 million to the WA economy every year.

Statistics compiled by a major South Korean-based immigration agent suggest the number of student visas issued in 2002 dropped 9 per cent from the previous year, while visas for students from New Zealand have increased by 1 per cent over the same period.

Some international education industry operators claim they are facing a drop in enrolment numbers in response to the Federal Government’s revised student visa program.

A spokesperson from Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock’s office said she was unaware of any concerns raised by educational institutions.

Under the current system, dev-eloped following a reform program introduced in July 2001, countries are categorised according to their risk profile and assigned a number between one and five.

A number of countries, including China, Indonesia and North Korea have had their profile upgraded, making it more difficult for students to successfully apply for a visa.

“There is a hierarchy of checking that is done,” the spokesperson said.

“In low-risk countries like Norway there isn’t an enormous amount of time spent checking the information that’s provided [in the visa applications].”

However it’s understood the Federal Government is under-taking a review of the way countries are categorised with a view to re-assessing certain countries.

“There was a significant review done of student visas over a year ago because [the system] was so complex” the spokesperson said.

“It’s a lot simpler now.

“The criteria students have to meet relate to the courses and there are a couple of countries that provide added challenges in relation to bona fide conditions and high non-return rates.”

But it’s not just the application conditions students have to meet that are of concern. The application process is costly and there are variations in the way applications are processed from State to State, according to Western Australian Private Education and Training Industry Association (WAPETIA) chairman Mike Truslove.

WAPETIA is a representative body for educational institutions and also runs a Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS) in accordance with Federal Government legislation.

This scheme protects the money students have paid in tuition fees from any improper use by the college or institution and ensures students receive the education they have paid for.

“There seems to be variations in the way visa regulations are interpreted,” Mr Truslove said.

“WA seems to suffer from a particularly pedantic reading.

“I guess it’s meant to stop people coming into the country and running off and working.

“But it’s had quite a devastating effect on the industry.”

There are about 18 private educational facilities in WA and a number of industry players already feel that WA is lagging behind Victoria and Queensland in terms of an international profile.

“In the past 12 months Queensland and Victoria have discovered that this is quite a good market and spent quite a lot developing it,” Mr Truslove said.

“Until recently [in WA] it was not a big part of the government’s psyche.”

Getting a bigger share of this valuable market in Australia is the driving force behind the development of the State Government’s strategy to make WA an inter-national hub of education services, Department of Industry and Technology international education and training director Garry Clarke said.

“What we’re doing is developing an education hub,” he said. “It’s looking at education as a catalyst for economic development.”

Mr Clarke said while visas posed some problems, it was an issue all the States had to face.

“It’s a Commonwealth Government issue and we’re constantly lobbying to change the visa requirements,” he said.

Director of Perth International College of English (PICE) and the vice-chairman of WAPETIA, John Paxton said there had been a steady decline in enrolment numbers in WA.

“What’s happened in the last half decade is that the numbers coming to Perth have fallen,” he said. “I think we’ve lost market share to the other States, Queensland and Victoria in particular.

“What we need is to work together with the WA Tourism Com-mission to promote WA as a destination.”

While the private colleges were working hard to market themselves all around the world, the student visa application process was having an effect on the results achieved, Mr Paxton said.

“It would appear that the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs is not solely focused on the business opportunities available in this area.”