2019 DRAFT SCHEDULE
Melanie will look at the options for international students and agents in accessing opportunities in areas outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane - the new incentives and the realities of studying regionally.
Are we uncovering a chink in the government’s armour with respect to decoupling education and immigration outcomes?
How realistic is this and what pathways are really open in which states, and what is a DAMA?
All this and more to be revealed at SYMPLED 2019.
The Northern Territory is growing the international student numbers to share in the "Boundless Possible" of the destination. Students in the NT have a very different experience and have opportunities to engage with the community and business that sometimes escapes students in larger cities. Hear from StudyNT about life and study in the tropical north.
Student recruitment agents play a vital and influential role in supporting Australia’s international education. Nearly 75 per cent of international students (470,000 students in 2017) come to study in Australia through an education agent. Past problems with agent conduct have prompted regulatory strengthening. The Australian Government worked with the sector to develop the Agent Code of Ethics, and revise the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018. These are designed to support the safety and welfare of students, especially those under the age of 18 years, and provide transparency in information for prospective students. Since August 2017, the Australian Government has shared information about education agent performance directly with education providers, and will progress to making this information public to help providers and students to work with the highest performing agents.
An open discussion on the issues of Ethical Recruitment Practices and Commission Based Recruitment model.
We are inviting providers, students and agents to contribute with their views on the topic. The current provider/agent model is under question especially for VET and ELICOS providers and the increasing pressure on margins. What are the solutions or alternatives?
While moving or travelling to a new country is usually an enriching and exciting experience, it can also have its challenges. There may be times when you feel uncertain in the unfamiliar environment, out of place or lonely.
It’s perfectly natural to experience these feelings, but it’s important to know when something is not right.
Being in a state of good mental health is more than just not having a mental illness. According to the World Health Organisation, when we are in good mental health, we experience a state of well-being in which we realise our own potential, cope well with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to our community. Allianz has a commitment to working with providers and agents to help students that may be suffering from mental illness.
The Council for International Students Australia spoke on the topic of education agents at their conference in Perth this year - there are still many concerns about education agent behaviour, business practices and the impact it has on the wider international education sector, and ultimately, the quality and/or quantity of international students coming to Australia. The feedback we received on this session on 'dodgy' education agents, education agents turned providers, falsification of documents, pre-departure information and value for investment have led to CISA wishing to address the education agents directly through this symposium.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman has a special role in considering complaints from international students about disputes they are having with their private education provider. The Ombudsman assisted over 1000 students to resolve their disputes with their providers, helping providers to improve their policies in the process.
But in many cases, students who have problems with their providers don’t know what to do, so they approach their education agents. How can education agents help students resolve these disputes? In her talk, Tricia Hennessy from the Commonwealth Ombudsman will explain the complaints process for students, and how education agents can guide students through it.
Tricia will also touch on complaints made about education agents from international students, including how the Ombudsman can investigate the actions or decisions of education agents.
Education agents will leave this session confident in their knowledge of how to help international students work out problems with their providers, and which agencies they can approach for help.
The advent of the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) and increased scrutiny of visa applications under Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) conditions by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has resulted in a high level of compliance for providers. Much of this work has been passed to the frontline recruitment channels - the education agent. Mark Lucas, (iAE Global CEO and Chair of ISEAA) discusses the added burdens of education provider requirements, the inconsistency of the requirements, and the added cost burdens that education agents now face. The call to action is for a common understanding of the SSVF/GTE requirements by both education agents and providers to give better outcomes for students.
ISEAA - one year on. Mark will also give an overview of the International Student Education Agent Association on the first anniversary of launching ISEAA in Brisbane at SYMPLED2018.
