The Albanese government in Australia has introduced a new directive, Ministerial Direction 111, to manage international student enrollments. This directive replaces the previous policy that prioritized low-risk students, aiming to control overseas migration, which has exceeded expectations.
Impact on Universities and Migration Control
The new directive ties enrollments to quotas assigned to each university, seeking to balance the benefits of international education with the need to manage migration levels. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke criticized the Coalition for abandoning bipartisan support, leading to the replacement of the previous directive.
Education Minister Jason Clare emphasized that the approach would benefit regional universities affected by enrollment cuts. The National Tertiary Education Union has cautiously welcomed the directive but demands guarantees against job losses resulting from reduced enrollments.
This policy shift reflects the government’s efforts to address concerns about the impact of international students on local communities and infrastructure, while also recognizing the economic and cultural contributions of international education.