Combined efforts on to solve student issues

The spaTe of attacks on Indian international students and the resulting media and community furore has exposed complex problems of students studying internationally in australia. These arise out of issues like inadequate or inappropriate counselling on the part of some education agents, uninformed and unrealistic expectations of students about studying and living in australia, poor quality education experiences provided by some education providers, and other issues like accommodation, transport and employment opportunities. another factor is inadequate efforts on the part of stakeholders to ensure social inclusion of international students into mainstream australian society.

Two stakeholders that were immediately blamed in a generalised fashion were education agents (both onshore and offshore) and vocational sector private providers. To address the above and as a part of multi-pronged measures to address these issues, a meeting was organised by education access australia (Melbourne Institute of Tourism and hospitality, Melbourne Institute of engineering), a private provider between a visiting delegation of the association of australian education Representatives in India (aaeRI), and a group of top private VeT providers in Victoria. some of the providers who attended were academia International, Cambridge International College, education access australia, Meridian International hotel schoolMelbourne Campus and sheila Baxter Training Centre.

Relevant findings of the AAERI delegation’s various meetings during their

Classical vocal concert

9 August, 4pm onwards at : Waverley Meadows primary school, 11 Columbia Drive, Wheelers hill, Vic, Melway Ref: 71 G 11. Classical vocal by internationally reputed artist Gulam abbas Khan of Delhi, son of padmashri Ustad Ghulam sadiq Khan. Will be accompanied by afroz Koya on tabla. Organised by association for India’s Development (aID) and sharda Kala Kendra. Tickets: $15 onwards. all proceeds will go to aID. www.sharda.org

Consul General

Flag Hoisting ceremony

15 August, 10am onwards at No. 214, Kooyong Road, Toorak. Flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate India’s Independence Day at the residence of the Consul General Of India. all Indians and persons of Indian origin welcome to attend. Call 93831052; Fax: 93841609 or email: cgo@cgimelb.org

Flag Hoisting Ceremony

15 August, 9.45 – 11am at Victoria square, Opp Town hall, sturt street, Ballarat. Indian National Flag hoisting Ceremony to celebrate India’s Independence Day. Organised by Ballarat Indian association Inc, followed by morning tea at saffron Café. RsVp by august 13: Khushi: 0411 237 363; australia visit were conveyed to the private providers during this meeting on July 25. as part of this visit, the aaeRI delegation met with relevant government departments like the Indian high Commissions to australia, Consul General of India in Melbourne, and associations like the australian Council for private education and Training (aCpeT), as well as several universities, TaFes and private providers. prior to his australia visit, the president of aaeRI had also met with the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, senator Chris evans in New Delhi, and provided some key inputs towards working out solutions.

The AAERI delegation appeared satisfied with the level of interest shown by all these bodies and government departments in working towards solutions. however, they have recognised a need to better educate some of these organisations about the australian international education sector. aaeRI felt their knowledge should go beyond economic statistics and implications about education being the third largest export industry in australia, and move towards a deeper understanding of the main focus of this industry – the international student. It is very important to improve international students’ australian experience, if the country has to retain its place in the highly competitive international education market. aaeRI sought the cooperation of top private VeT providers in this endeavour of educating relevant bodies.

It is believed that about 38% of Victoria’s international students (about 22,000 students) study with ten top private providers in the state. These providers will be key players, along with aaeRI and similar quality agent organisations from other countries, in bringing about a positive change in the vocational education sector and in the overall international education sector in Victoria. This will be achieved through benchmarking a high standard of operation for providers and education agents.

Both aaeRI and the top providers agreed