The draft Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bills 2015 released for public consultation today highlights the Australian Government’s commitment to high-quality international vocational education and training (VET).
Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham welcomed the
consultation, saying the growth in the numbers of international students studying skills training in Australia demonstrated Australia’s reputation for high quality, industry-linked vocational education and training.
“Improving the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework will simplify and
streamline the regulation of international education, allowing education providers to focus on building a skilled workforce for Australia and countries overseas,” Senator Birmingham said.
“This is a significant step in ensuring the legislative framework for international education cuts unnecessary red tape for providers, whilst maintaining important protections for students and the reputation of the Australian VET sector.”
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; and - reducing reporting requirements identified by education institutions as duplicative and costly.
Senator Birmingham said the proposed measures would provide greater flexibility in payment options, reduce unnecessary red tape, reduce costs, and increase flexibility and student
choices, which are all good for the Australia’s VET sector in an increasingly competitive international education market.
“Labor’s response to quality issues in 2009 almost shut down the sector overnight, and
damaged our international standing and reputation, from which Australia is still trying to recover,” he said.
“Our government is committed to ensuring that all VET students, whether domestic or
international, get a quality education that delivers skills related to real jobs. 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.