Page 48 - StudyTravel Magazine July/August 2021 Issue

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schools participated in our survey
bsf!cbdl!jo!3132" With Australia’s borders closed and no sign 10,672
of them opening up significantly in the
near future, the country’s English language
schools are either in hibernation or having to total number of students at
Zpv!bsf!xfmdpnf!up!b!gspou.spx!tfbu/!CZP!esjolt/ diversify their product range. Bethan Norris these schools in 2020
finds out more.
STWQ!opx!wjb; lAnguAge 17
tuvezusbwfm/ofuxpsl0tubs.bxbset0bxbset total number of estimated
student weeks at these
schools in 2020

61%
he next twelve months are going programmes with more specifi c
to be absolutely dire in Australia,” outcomes. A very surprising number of of these students were studying
Tsays Ian Pratt from Lexis English tourists, working holiday makers and online
www.lexisenglish.com. “We’ve already students decided to stay.”
lost some absolutely outstanding However, a recent rule change
schools, and I unfortunately expect to allowing student visa holders to
see many more go down yet.” transfer onto a visa that allows them
Ian’s gloomy predictions are echoed to work unlimited hours within the Brett Blacker,
by other schools who have not been hotel and tourism industry could see from English
able to recruit students from outside this lifeline cut off . Simon Craft from Australia, talks
of Australia since March 2020. Simon Inforum www.inforum.com.au says, to us...
Costain from Go Study Australia “VET colleges have been largely spared
www.gostudy.com.au says, “Most what we have been going through “The latest Department of Educa-
ELICOS-only colleges are closing down but that’s about to change with the tion, Skills and Employment (DESE)
or entering periods of hibernation – government’s announcement that VET data shows a 65.8 per cent decline
there are simply not enough students students can move over to the 408 in student commencements for
to keep operating. Agents are sending Covid-19 visa, not study, and work March 2021 YTD. However, March
their ELICOS students to the larger as much as they want for 12 months. 2020 was already down 4.9 per cent
multi-sector colleges as they are As the majority of international VET because Australia closed its borders
deemed to be at less risk of closure.” students are only enrolled to get a to China in February 2020, then the
Multi-sector providers in Australia visa to stay in the country, most will rest of the world midway through
have fared slightly better as existing probably move over to the 408.” March. Seventy per cent is a much
0$,1 6321625 63216256 student visa holders have transferred Providers are not hopeful that their more realistic fi gure. This data only
onto courses that are likely to help situation will see much change until looks at student visa holders which
them remain in the country and fi nd the middle of 2022 when borders are make up around 70 per cent [of stu-
work. David Dolley from Academique predicted to open again. Ian believes dents at member schools]. EA sur-
PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
www.academique.com.au, a private that demand from students will be veyed 109 members at the end of Q4
provider of ELICOS and vocational strong. “I expect Australia to do very 2020 and found enormous decreas-
courses, says, “During the pandemic, well – we have a very strong economy, es in non-student visa numbers. For
numbers dropped from about 600 student work opportunities are nearly instance, these members saw 1,439
to about 500. Revenue is about the unlimited, and they’ll be returning to Japanese students on visitor visas
same though, because students an education sector desperately keen in Q4 2019. In Q4 2020, those same
have shifted from inexpensive, less- to make them welcome.” colleges saw 26 Japanese students
focused courses to more complicated bethan@studytravel.network on visitor visas.”
Please go to https://studytravel.network/magazine/issues/813 to see an extended version of this article.
JUlY/AUGUST 2021 45