In a drive to promote Australian education to China, Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne has embarked on a five day visit to China and Laos to strengthen Australia’s commitment to education cooperation.

Mr Pyne said international education is a core element of Australia’s economic prosperity and social advancement, and China continues to be Australia’s most important education partner.

In a speech yesterday at Peking University, Mr Pyne sought to strike a balance between openness to international students and the maintenance of standards stating that the government was “committed to ensuring Australia maintains its position as a top destination for Chinese and other international students”.

The Australian however reports that there is a concern on about how best — and how broadly — to judge risk within the student visa system. In particular, the report has questioned the effectiveness of the Streamlined Visa Processing system for student visas (SVP) which generally makes it quicker and easier for students to obtain visas provided they enrol in one of the education providers approved under the system.

The report states that with the grand total of universities, private providers and public TAFEs with access to the streamlined visa processing system now edging towards 130 after the government offered entry to another 79 providers, international education leader Phil Honeywood has questioned the effectiveness of SVP.

“Questions have to be asked about the premium that SVP status now provides,” said Mr Honey wood, executive director of the International Education Association of Australia.

He was commenting on the sheer number of providers being invited to join the streamlined system, given that SVP status was supposed to signal an elite group of low-risk providers.

There is a long history of tension over student visas with the immigration department seeking to defend the integrity of the visa program, and the education department concerned for the welfare of a vital export industry.

Sources

http://ministers.education.gov.au/pyne/strengthening-regional-cooperation-education

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/growing-list-of-providers-may-hurt-svp-status/story-e6frg6n6-1227052985165