Although the enrollment rate of international students in Australia has been slower than expected, experts are hopeful that by the end of this year, Australia’s education sector will be back on track.

International students are starting to return to Australian universities. However, their turnout was lower than expected

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) told SBS Punjabi that 123,900 students started the course by March 2022, which is up 2 per cent from the same period in 2021.

“Admission rates are rising slowly, but many visas are not being approved,” Antarpreet Sikhan, CEO of Brighton Institute of Technology Melbourne, told SBS Punjabi

Mr. Sikhan’s private college was established in 2004. For the past two years they have been in trouble.

“College enrollment rate has come down a lot. Universities, however, are coping with this situation a little better. However, private registered training organizations or RTOs are not receiving as many applications as they used to.”

He said the number of applications in his organization for the next July session has increased a little. He hopes to return everything normal by the end of this year.

According to DESE, 440,129 international students have been admitted this year till March 2022; Compared to the same period in 2021, which is 15 percent less.

Mr Seekhan said international students were coming back. However, the situation is improving at a very slow pace.

He said, “If we compare with other countries, such as Canada, the admission situation of international students there has improved very fast. Even in this case, their 2019 record has been broken.”

He added, “Many people have been waiting for visas for a long time. The government should pay attention to them to help in the education sector.”

The reason for the slowdown in the first quarter:

Ravi Lochan Singh, president of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI), told SBS Punjabi: Among those who arrived in the first round in 2022 were mainly students who already had visas, who were teaching online and who could not travel due to various restrictions on Covid-19.

“There were some students who got visas to come in February-March. However, with the increase in visa applications in January 2022, the processing time for visas has also increased dramatically. Some have had to wait up to three months for a student visa.”

Mr Singh added: “In April 2022, AAERI was informed by Home Affairs that visa processing would take an average of about 10 weeks. Due to these reasons, the arrival of some students during July-2022 has been postponed.”

The President of AAERI said that despite the severe impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic on the international student sector, the sector is slowly returning to normal.

“Visa processing time has already been reduced,” he said.

“I also hope that by 2023, the number of students coming to Australia from India will return to normal.”

He added: “Australia’s new post-study work or post-graduation job opportunities are very attractive and probably the best in this regard. And that’s why students will choose Australia. ”

Education is essential for immigration to Australia. Currently, due to staff shortages caused by the global pandemic, the Australian government has relaxed work restrictions on student visas.

International student Akshay Kumar arrived in Australia on May 25. “Even though my plan was pause by the global pandemic, I will continue my studies and acquire new skills,” he told SBS Punjabi.

“I am attracted to a better Australian way of life, better education, multiculturalism and more.”