Sydney Uni VC Mark Scott calls for ‘laser focus’ on cowboy colleges amid international student debate

Sydney University Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott has hit back amid plans to alleviate housing pressure by capping international student enrolments, arguing the Albanese government is missing the “real problem”.

University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott has hit back at the Albanese government’s plans to alleviate housing pressure by restricting international student enrolments at Australian universities, arguing the “real problem” is impostor institutions offering dodgy degrees.

Federal ministers have met with members of The Council for International Education to begin consultation on a raft of legislative changes to slow down the growth of the foreign student market, amid concerns record migration is putting a strain on the rental market.

Professor Scott, also the chair of the Group of Eight university alliance, argued criticism of universities’ international student intake is misdirected, and instead it is cowboy degree farms and so-called ‘ghost colleges’ that deserve “laser-like focus”.

“The real problem that has existed in education has not been with the universities, it’s with providers offering qualifications of variable quality,” he said.

“The government’s top priority should be targeting the dodgy providers who harm Australia’s international reputation.”

University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott. Picture: The University of Sydney / Louise M Cooper

So far 34 registered training organisations suspected of either recruiting international students under false pretences or failing to provide quality training have been handed six-month improvement notices under a government crackdown announced earlier this year.

Professor Scott also pointed to research from the Student Accommodation Council which found international students account for only four per cent of the rental market across Australia.

“We need to look at the data, and not blame international students for a problem they are demonstrably not at fault for,” he said.

The Tenants’ Union of NSW welcomed policy changes forcing universities to play a bigger role in providing accommodation, but warned restricting immigration would not solve the housing crisis.

“Students are sold an image of studying in Australia that does not include cramped, expensive rentals and requiring providers to lift the supply of purpose-built student accommodation is a good aim,” CEO Leo Patterson Ross said.

“(But) restricting immigration levels will not be the solution that delivers genuine and lasting housing affordability.”

(File image) The boss of Sydney Uni says students are “demonstrably not” to blame for the rental crisis. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Council for International Education convener Phil Honeywood was satisfied that the federal government listened to the sector’s concerns at a meeting with Education Minister Jason Clare, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts on Monday, to avoid the “policy ad-hoc-ery” that has plagued vocational and higher education.

“We’ve had acknowledgment the government will work with us to achiever mutual desirable outcomes,” he said.

Minister O’Neil described the meeting as “positive and constructive”, while Minister Clare noted the “critical reforms” would take careful collaboration to get right.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

“International education is a valuable national asset. It doesn’t just make us money, it makes us friends,” he said.

However, Mr Honeywood fears the contents of the federal budget will cast a long shadow on Australia’s standing as an education destination.

“We’re also expecting this Budget to double cost of student visas, and we’re already the second-highest in the world,” he said.

Moves to have universities build more student accommodation, meanwhile are “not a panacea” to the housing crisis, pointing out local councils are opposing projects such as a 1100-bed high rise proposed by UNSW facing objections from Randwick City Council.

Randwick Council is opposing the construction of purpose-built student accommodation at UNSW.

“Shovel-ready accommodation projects in Sydney and Melbourne take three years to be approved,” he said.

Former Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor Barney Glover embraced the proposed legislation, and said the “very important conversation” on Australia’s control over international student arrivals is a “timely” one to have.

Former University of Western Sydney Vice Chancellor Barney Glover, at their Parramatta South Campus. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I don’t think it’s going to lessen the demand for study in Australia – we have a uniformly high quality higher education wherever you go, whether to Sydney, Armidale or Darwin, and in my view a rebalancing would benefit regional centres where often there is less pressure on housing,” he said.

“Temporary migration is have an impact on housing in Australia, which international students are a part of, and we’ve got to recognise that.

“But it’s a very important part of our soft diplomacy in our region and our economic prosperity.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns also supported his federal counterparts taking action to slow migration, which has “put upward pressure on housing particularly in Western Sydney,” he said.

“If we can boost the housing supply over the same period of time, we’ve got an opportunity – the first in a long time – to catch our breath.”

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