Deakin favours controversial international student caps

Deakin University has announced support for controversial international student caps, but Geelong’s peak tourism body isn’t so sure.

Professor Iain Martin has commenced as Deakin's seventh Vice-Chancellor and President.

Deakin University’s vice-chancellor says the institution supports controversial international student caps that could see next year’s new overseas enrolments at its Waurn Ponds and Geelong campuses slashed.

On Tuesday Education Minister Jason Clare announced the federal government’s proposed cap on international student levels at 270,000 in 2025, subject to the passage of legislation before the federal parliament.

The cap, divided between higher education and vocational education and training (VET), would limit the number of new overseas student commencements for the higher education sector in 2025 to an estimated around 145,000, in an aim to pare back university enrolments to their 2023 levels.

Individual institutions have been given specific limits on international student enrolments, known as an international student profile (ISP).

Deakin University vice-chancellor Iain Martin said in accordance with Deakin’s ISP in 2025 the university would accept only 5800 new international higher education qualification students, in addition to a number of other categories excluded from the cap, including students in an Australian transnational education twinning arrangement and higher degree research students.

In June, Professor Martin called for a blanket 35 per cent cap on the number of international students at all universities.

In addition, Deakin suggested no more than 50 per cent of students at a university should come from any one country, and any field of education should not have more than 40 per cent of international students enrolled at one time.

“As we have argued from the outset, international education plays a vital role for the Australian higher education sector,” Prof Martin said.

“But it must be undertaken with consideration of both the national good and meeting our social obligations.”

Prof Martin said Deakin’s indicative ISP for 2025 was close to the university’s 2019 and 2023 new overseas student commencements, and the cap broadly aligned with financial and operational plans for 2025.

“The number is in line with Deakin’s individual indicative ISP,” he sad.

“I am relieved to see this confirmation of our ISP for next year.

“This certainty enables us to plan with greater confidence for Deakin.”

Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine executive director Tracy Carter said the impact of this cap on the region, whether positive or negative, would depend on the allocation of international students between campuses yet to be announced.

“The devil is in the detail,” Ms Carter said.

“If it supports more international students studying regionally, as has been suggested, that is great news for the regional visitor economy.”

Tracy Carter, executive director of Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Ms Carter said without knowing what the ratios of international students in regional or city campuses would be, it was difficult to say what the impact would be.

Ms Carter said Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine worked with local institutions to promote Geelong as an international education region, helping students and their families understand experiences on offer beyond the lecture theatre.

“There’s a strong visiting friends and relatives element too – the families and friends who come to stay in the region when their student is here will seek tourism experiences, and the students become wonderful hosts and ambassadors for Geelong and The Bellarine,” she said “International students are also important for our global brand positioning, really contributing to Geelong’s standing as a clever and creative city.”

Originally published as Deakin favours controversial international student caps