Hub could see return of foreign students to universities across state
Toowoomba’s proposed quarantine hub could provide a lifeline for the state’s universities, many of which have experienced a significant decline in foreign students.
Education
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Toowoomba’s proposed quarantine hub could provide a lifeline for the state’s universities, according to Queensland Vice Chancellors Committee Chair Sandra Harding, as facilities continue to grapple with the fallout from the pandemic.
Professor Harding said the pandemic had caused a significant decline in foreign students, an issue which had only worsened this year.
“Last year you had some people commencing before the pandemic really hit,” Prof Harding said.
“This year, we’ve had very, very few arrivals at all.
“This has had a tremendous impact on universities, both in terms of the quality of the educational experience for domestic students who don’t get the richness afforded to them by virtue of international students and also because of the enormous impact on finances.”
Prof Harding has now voiced her support for a potential quarantine hub in Toowoomba, a facility proposed by local businessman John Wagner.
“It’s important that Australians have priority in coming home,” she said.
“But we’re very keen to see whether or not we could have a graduated safe return of international students through this facility, allowing them to pursue their studies.”
If the issue was left unaddressed, universities could face long term ramifications according to Prof Harding.
“If we can’t generate confidence in students who had to end up studying online or overseas last year, if they can’t see that we’re going to open up, those students will go somewhere else,” she said.
“Instead of commencing in Australia, they are going to the UK, New Zealand and other countries which are easier for them to get to.”
Prof Harding said this in turn would have a run-on effect in the state.
“We know when international students come they often have family and friends come as well,” she said.
“So the knock-on effect for tourism and communities more broadly is huge.
“We’ve got to find a way to make it easier for international students to be confident they will be welcomed back.”
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