Date set for international students to return to SA
The first international students will begin returning to SA within weeks, but Aussies will be ahead of them in the queue for flights.
Tertiary
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International students stuck overseas will begin to return to Adelaide in November with final Federal Government approval allowing the pilot program to begin.
Seats on flights from Singapore will be allocated to students on condition that any Australian citizens wanting to return home must have priority ahead of the student.
Some 300 students will return, spread over flights from November through to January next year.
“The program will operate as a ‘proof of concept’ demonstrating that we can safely manage the return of international students to study in South Australia, when borders open in future,” UniSA vice-chancellor David Lloyd said.
The students must follow SA Health protocols and will be escorted to medi-hotels to undergo two weeks’ quarantine in line with all travellers arriving from overseas.
The program allows for 160 students from Adelaide University, which has the highest number of international students.
UniSA will be able to bring in 90 and Flinders 45 students.
“The pilot program represents an important step in welcoming international students back to campus, and its success is crucial in being able to bring more of our international students to Australia when borders reopen,” Flinders pro vice-chancellor (international) Sebastian Raneskold said.
Adelaide University pro vice-chancellor (international) Jacqueline Lo also welcomed the decision.
“Our international students contribute significantly to our university and to the wider community and economy, and we look forward to renewing those ties over the coming months,” she said.
StudyAdelaide chief executive Karyn Kent said the promotional organisation was “delighted”.
Opinion surveys taken when the program was first raised in August met public opposition with borders then being closed with Victoria and thousands of Australian residents stranded overseas.
Since then, the initial arrival target of September has been pushed back several times and national Cabinet has agreed to increasing limits on the number of returning Australians.
“Our number one priority is to bring back Australians as quickly as possible, which is why we have increased our capacity in our quarantine hotels in SA,” a State Government spokeswoman said.
“International students play a vital role in contributing to our community, and we look forward to welcoming them back.”
The date in November of the first flight was yet to be finalised – but Singapore Airlines will double passenger flights to Adelaide to twice a week from early November.
The universities have pointed out the program only applies to students already enrolled, so fees have already been paid or committed with the main financial beneficiaries being SA businesses.
International students generate more than $2bn a year for SA.
About 2300 enrolled students are working remotely abroad and each university has written to their students inviting them to apply to be part of the program.
Only students from nine locations are eligible – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. These locations are within the approved Singapore Airlines transit corridor.
Places will go first to students who most need to be in Adelaide to complete their degree or have visa restrictions.
Students must pay for their travel and quarantine, although the universities will provide some support through their welfare programs.
