The Minister’s office is reporting that options remain for overseas students despite the recently announced changes to the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program.

We have previously reported that student visas are not automatic entitlements to permanent residence in Australia. However, it is hard to blame international students and their families for thinking this isn’t so, as for years Australian educational institutions and their agents have been “selling” courses as a portal to Australian residency.

How can Australian educational institutions adequately address our skills shortage?

1. There should be greater evaluation of educational institutions by employers (or their industry bodies/associations) to determine whether they are actually teaching the necessary skills for people to enter the workforce.
2. Expel students who repeatedly fail courses irrespective of the exorbitant student fees that they are paying and reward (subsidise) students who excel.