The Australian government is facing mounting pressure to deport international students linked to "ghost colleges" following a significant crackdown on fraudulent vocational education providers.
The Australian government is facing mounting pressure to deport international students linked to "ghost colleges" following a significant crackdown on fraudulent vocational education providers.
The Australian government is facing mounting pressure to deport international students linked to "ghost colleges" following a significant crackdown on fraudulent vocational education providers. Over the past week, more than 150 dormant vocational education and training (VET) providers have been shut down for failing to deliver training for over a year, with an additional 140 issued warnings.
Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles emphasized the government's commitment to eliminating corruption within the VET sector, stating, “We’ve weeded out and shut down over 150 dormant operators, and 140 more have been given a yellow card. Under our government, there is no place for anyone who seeks to undermine the sector and exploit students.”
However, critics argue that the crackdown is long overdue and question the handling of students who enrolled in these fraudulent programs. Leith van Onselen of MacroBusiness criticized the delay and called for stricter consequences, including deportation of students involved in the fraud. Melanie Macfarlane, CEO of MM Migration and Recruitment, echoed concerns about the slow pace of action and the need for higher barriers to entry for educational providers.
Dr. Abul Rizvi, a migration expert, acknowledged the complexity of deporting students but stressed the importance of enforcing visa conditions. He noted that the immigration compliance function has been underfunded in recent years, complicating efforts to address visa abuse.
The crackdown has intensified scrutiny on the VET sector, with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) currently investigating about 200 serious matters related to 165 providers, many of which concern international students. The government has also introduced new legislation to make it more challenging for fraudulent providers to operate.
The issue has broader implications, with concerns about the impact on Australia's housing market and the potential increase in refugee applications as students from ghost colleges seek asylum. Critics argue that the government’s measures could inadvertently lead to more applications for protection visas.
The Australian government has also announced a cap on international student numbers, reducing the intake by nearly 20,000 for 2025. This decision has faced backlash from universities concerned about revenue losses and the impact on skills shortages.
Education Minister Jason Clare defended the cap, stating it aims to return migration levels to pre-pandemic figures and address concerns over the quality and integrity of the international education sector.
The situation underscores ongoing debates about balancing migration policies, maintaining educational standards, and addressing the needs of international students.
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