Half the students at Sydney and Melbourne universities are now from overseas. A decade ago, this figure was 25 per cent. But cuts are coming, and for some it’s a matter of survival.
It’s a strange day when a government and opposition go head-to-head on which side can be tougher in slashing Australia’s fourth-largest export industry, with flow-on effects to the budget’s bottom line, skill shortages, the viability of hundreds of education institutions, unemployment and the research and innovation sectors.
International education is something Australia excels at. The sector brought in $48 billion in export dollars in 2022-23 and employed around 200,000 people, and many more at the margins.
Julie HareEducation editorJulie Hare is the Education editor. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a writer, journalist and editor. Connect with Julie on Twitter. Email Julie at julie.hare@afr.com
