By SAT News Desk
Melbourne, 8 July: The government has initiated a consultation process to induce improvements and streamline the international education sector. The Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, has foreshadowed improvements to reduce red tape and strengthen international education.
“The Australian Government has released drafts of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Amendment Bills 2015 for public consultation,” a media release says.
“The proposals in these Bills simplify and streamline the regulation of international education. They follow extensive consultations with stakeholders on ways to improve the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework,” Mr Pyne said.
“This is a significant step in ensuring the legislative framework for international education is contemporary, and that red tape is reduced, so that Australia’s education institutions can focus on their core business and be even more competitive.”
International education is Australia’s fourth largest export industry, earning $17.6 billion last year, and supporting over 130,000 jobs around Australia.
The ESOS framework protects the interests of international students and plays a central role in ensuring Australia’s education institutions provide them with an outstanding student experience.
The proposed improvements to the ESOS framework include:
• reducing complexity in the current Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 by streamlining quality assurance processes
• reducing reporting requirements identified by education institutions as duplicative and costly.
Mr Pyne said that the Government’s mission to cut red tape was clear, but it would be done in partnership with the international education sector and while fully protecting students.
“That’s why we are releasing the Bills and seeking further advice from stakeholders. We are determined to get the policy settings right.
“The proposed changes will maintain the quality of Australia’s international education institutions and make the legislative framework clearer,” Mr Pyne said.
Submissions are open until Friday, 7 August 2015.
For further information, visit https://submissions.education.gov.au/forms/Exposure-drafts-of-Education-Services-for-Overseas-Students-Bills/pages/form
– SAT News Service
