Tougher standards needed in international education

AUSTRALIA – The Australian Education Union (AEU) has said tougher standards must be introduced for organisations who deliver training to international students to improve the quality of education and to get rid of shonky private operators.

The AEU told a Senate Inquiry into the welfare of international students that the wholesale privatisation of training and education had led to the proliferation of shonky private operators using the lure of permanent residency to pursue profits.

AEU federal president, Angelo Gavrielatos said failing to address the causes of the current crisis in international education risked further damage to Australia’s reputation as a quality provider of education, poor outcomes for students and the decline of our third largest export industry.

“Governments have failed to maintain educational quality and ensure international students are properly trained,” Mr Gavrielatos said.

“Vocational education has been corrupted by shonky private operators using the lure of permanent residency to pursue profits. They have been allowed to prey on those who sought skills and a better life in Australia.”

The AEU has called for tougher standards including:

• A requirement that all teachers have a teaching qualification.

• An end to the situation where colleges are allowed to operate only for international students.

• A requirement to provide greater student support and welfare services.

Mr Gavrielatos said there also needed to be a tiered system of registration that recognises the quality outcomes and superior services provided by TAFE colleges.

“A critical step in ending the current crisis must be to lift the standard of international vocational education and training.

“Lifting educational quality means imposing tougher standards. We must act now to ensure that all students who train and study in Australia get a quality education.”