Debt-stricken CDU to pay full $160k cost for international student quarantine, as other states prepare to submit own plans

DEBT-STRICKEN Charles Darwin University will shell out nearly $160,000 to pay for international students to quarantine at Howard Springs, with that number likely to grow in the coming months.

DEBT-STRICKEN Charles Darwin University will shell out nearly $160,000 to pay for international students to quarantine at Howard Springs, with that number likely to grow in the coming months.

It comes as federal Education Minister Dan Tehan confirmed that the NT, South Australia and New South Wales were this week submitting plans to restart international student programs in 2021.

Victoria and Queensland did not submit plans despite the significance of the $5bn industry.

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A spokeswoman for NT International Education Minister Nicole Manison would not confirm if or what plans were in place, but said the NT government was working with the commonwealth to bring more international students to the NT next year.

A CDU spokeswoman confirmed, following questions from the NT News, that it would be paying $2500 for each student to quarantine at Howard Springs, but would not specify where it would get the money.

The first cohort of international students arrive in Darwin this week. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

It comes weeks after CDU released its restructure to unify Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education across the university, and balance its budget with $9m in savings.

On Monday Darwin became the first city in the country to welcome back international students through a pilot program by CDU.

The 63 students, from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia flew to Singapore before boarding a chartered flight to Darwin.

The students paid for their flights, while CDU shouldered the $2500 per person cost – totalling $157,500 – for the cohort to quarantine at Howard Springs.

Each international student is worth about $30,000. International education generated about $145 million in the Territory last year.

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“All of the students are very happy,” the CDU spokeswoman said.

“They were overwhelmed with the welcome reception they have received and they are really enjoying their experience in Howard Springs quarantine facility and have likened it to being on holiday.

“CDU is working with the Territory and Australian governments to arrange further flights in 2021. We hope to include students from the Indian subcontinent, Asia and southeast Asia.”