Deadline looms to devise uni plan to bring back international students

Victoria has just days to devise a COVID-safe plan to lure back international students.

Campuses including Melbourne University in Parkville have been almost deserted this year.

Victoria has just days to come up with a plan to get international university students back in 2021 to revive the tertiary education sector which is worth $14 billion a year to the state.

Federal education minister Dan Tehan said all states and territories had a November 30 deadline to deliver a proposal to Canberra on how overseas students could be safely brought back post-pandemic amid fears some students will choose other countries over Australia.

Tomas Johnsson, CEO of UniLodge Australia.

Mr Tehan also hinted that quarantine options other than hotels would be considered as part of a recovery strategy.

Student accommodation businesses said they have 5500 empty rooms in three cities ideal for quarantine through the two biggest providers Scape and UniLodge.

Tomas Johnsson, chief executive of UniLodge Australia, said the company had worked with universities, health departments, police and border protection agencies since January in response to the state quarantine programs.

“Apart from detailed health plans, pastoral care programs, intense hygiene protocols and compliance with government agency protocols, these buildings can be made available for exclusive use, have studio accommodation, CCTV, fresh air, controlled movement and social distancing capability among other attributes,’’ Mr Johnsson said.

Craig Carracher of Scape Australia said international students were not suited to hotel detention and could be properly catered for in specialised student accommodation.

“And if we got going in January, 30,000 students would be ready by the start of first semester,’’ Mr Carracher said.

But he feared that occupancy rates, which were about 70 per cent in January and had dropped to 45 per cent (excluding those who had paid to keep their rooms while still overseas), could fall to just 20 per cent next year.

“And 2021 won’t get much better until semester two.’’

Mr Tehan said any proposal would have to be signed off state and territory chief medical officers.

“If they (states) see that there are opportunities to safely quarantine people outside of hotel quarantine, then that’s something that we’re prepared to discuss,’’ Mr Tehan said.

“We’ve asked every state and territory government to provide us with a plan as to how they could safely bring international students back after Christmas.’’

UniLodge says its student accommodation in Melbourne is suitable for quarantine purposes.

A Victorian government spokesman said it was working with the commonwealth on a detailed proposal.

About 120,000 international students are currently still living in Victoria, about half the pre-COVID total.

The moves follow a recent IDP Connect survey which showed that being able to offer face-to-face learning was vital to luring international students to Australian campuses.

Re: PM’s comments on Friday:
We have offered Govt that we will get a professional audit to agree which PBSA buildings meet the quarantine needs of the CMOs in each state. No need for hotel beds! #Intled https://t.co/Qlzg0ReprC

— Phil Honeywood (@PhilHoneywood) November 14, 2020

Intl Students: We value your contribution to our classrooms, cities and communities and we will continue to advocate for your safe return to Australia. To keep updated on any changes to government policy please visit https://t.co/wqFh2GZdvP.
#Intled

— IEAA (@IEAAustralia) November 20, 2020

Countries such as the UK and the US which have remained open to international students were more likely to get enrolments compared to Australia which has closed its borders.

Deakin University has already advised students that remote learning would continue next year but some practical and lab work would be conducted on-campus.

@IanRoyall