Griffith University Vice Chancellor Carolyn Evans says international student cap could be detrimental

From an international student paradise to a ravaged reputation, one of the Gold Coast’s greatest industries is in danger of failing. Read why.

From an international student paradise to a ravaged reputation, one of our city’s greatest growth industries is in danger of failing.

The federal government’s plan to cap international student numbers from next year is bad news not just for our educational institutions, but all of the Gold Coast, with the fallout set to include job losses and workplace shortages.

While the plan, which is part of an attempt to reduce overall migration to pre-pandemic levels, would see Griffith University increase its international quota in 2025, that won’t be much use if it continues to struggle to fill those places.

Indeed, Griffith University Vice Chancellor Carolyn Evans said the international cap was just another setback for universities struggling to claw back their Covid losses.

“Griffith along with Universities Australia has been opposed to the capping regime, we are pleased with the cap we have for next year but our concern is that this new power can be wielded with very little consultation or engagement … next year we could suffer a really serious cut,” Ms Evans told the ABC.

NEWS360 ABT. Griffith University Vice Chancellor Professor Carolyn Evans. Picture: Supplied

“It’s not just the caps but the increase in the amount we’re charging students to apply for visas; the reduction in the amount of work that qualified international students can do after they graduate, despite our real difficulty in attracting qualified workers; the changes in the way they determine who gets a visa … so even before these caps came in, we’ve seen enormous damage to our international reputation.

“We’ve seen our applications absolutely fall off a cliff this year with all of the changes the government has brought in and good students are being directed to other countries.

“(At Griffith) we’ve had something of a hiring freeze, there has been a reduction in the numbers we hired this year and we will see further job losses if we can’t climb back with the quota we’ve got.”

And it’s not just Griffith that’s suffering from this bad international report card.

Our international students are major contributors to the economy of this city, not just as consumers but as a major pillar of our workforce, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Griffith University Gold Coast. Supplied

Experience Gold Coast executive director for education Jennine Tax said it wasn’t just our universities copping a hit either, with vocational institutions set to see their international student numbers halved, a cut that she said could kill local providers.

Somehow we have to resurrect our reputation as a paradise for international students and defend the role they play in our communities and economy.

Because right now, it seems they have been co-opted into a political argument about migration and housing, when the reality is that they have little impact on either issue.

Ms Tax said a significant number of students from overseas returned home after their studies.

“They come here, earn an education, contribute to our economy, and often return home to put their skills to use,” she said.

“I don’t feel confident that any modelling has been done of the potential economic impact.”

As for housing issues, many of our universities offer on-campus student-only accommodation, or encourage homestays for students with local families, providing extra income for locals struggling with the cost of living.

Ms Tax said the Gold Coast also needed the government to immediately revoke Ministerial Direction 107, which saw our local education institutions sent to the back of the class when it came to their students’ visas being processed.

“We have agents offshore, who have known us for years and think the Gold Coast is a fantastic destination for study, who are now saying we love you, but it’s too much effort, it’s too expensive, we have to do the right thing by our students and send them elsewhere,” she said.

Jennine Tax and Craig Rowsell at Future Gold Coast 2024 at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for Gold Coast at Large. Picture, Portia Large.

“The message the students are receiving is that you’re not wanted, there are too many of you, go somewhere else … and it has been heard. The demand has dampened significantly.

“All we can do is push the government to amend their policies and to keep sending the message of welcome to students overseas.

“Griffith University at least has a real chance for growth next year, but in the meantime we have to salvage our reputation.”