❓ The WA parliamentary question addresses the regulation of international education providers, focusing on strengthening rules, re-registration criteria, accountability for agents, and assistance to students in case of provider closure. The Minister outlines existing frameworks and future plans, largely deferring to Commonwealth responsibilities.
AnsweredQoN 2373Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What steps, if any, has the Education Department put in place to strengthen the rules for education providers of international students?
(2) Will the Minister require those education providers to re-register under new, more stringent criteria?
(3) If yes to (2), when will this be required?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) Will the Minister table the existing criteria?
(6) Is the Minister now able to table the proposed new criteria; and
(a) if not, when will the Minister be able to table any new criteria?
(7) Will there be greater accountability placed on the providers for the agents they use; and
(a) if so, what will that involve?
(8) Will the Department be doing more to increase assistance to students when a provider closes; and
(a) if not, why not?
(9) What, if anything, has the Minister done to promote Western Australia as a provider of education to international students and to allay any fears that they or their parents may have?
(10) On what dates did the Minister take any such actions?
(2) Will the Minister require those education providers to re-register under new, more stringent criteria?
(3) If yes to (2), when will this be required?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) Will the Minister table the existing criteria?
(6) Is the Minister now able to table the proposed new criteria; and
(a) if not, when will the Minister be able to table any new criteria?
(7) Will there be greater accountability placed on the providers for the agents they use; and
(a) if so, what will that involve?
(8) Will the Department be doing more to increase assistance to students when a provider closes; and
(a) if not, why not?
(9) What, if anything, has the Minister done to promote Western Australia as a provider of education to international students and to allay any fears that they or their parents may have?
(10) On what dates did the Minister take any such actions?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 April 2010
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
55 days
(1) None. The Western Australian Education Department is not responsible for the regulation of international education providers. Responsibility for the regulation of international education providers in Western Australia has been vested with the Department of Education Services for the past 14 years (since 1996).
The legal framework governing the responsibility of education institutions towards international students in Western Australia is defined by the Commonwealth Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS) and the State Education Service Providers (Full Fee Overseas Students) Registration Act 1991 (ESPRA). In order to provide education services to international students providers must be registered with both the Commonwealth and State Government.
(2) Yes.
(3) By 31 December 2010.
(4) Not Applicable.
(5) The existing criteria for registration defined by the ESOS are principally set out in the National Code of Practice 2007 ("the National Code"). All international education providers in Australia must comply with the provisions of the National Code. The Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations administers the ESOS and the National Code. The ESOS and the National Code are publicly available from the Commonwealth's Australian Education International website.
Unlike most other States and Territories, Western Australia also has its own Act, the ESPRA, to regulate providers and protect students. In addition to the National Code, the ESPRA requires providers to demonstrate that they are financially viable and students' pre-paid fees are safeguarded.
On top of these existing requirements, two additional criteria were recently introduced by the Commonwealth Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Re-registration of Providers and Other Measures) Act 2010. These new criteria require providers to also demonstrate their principal purpose is to provide education and that they have the capacity to provide education of a satisfactory standard.
(6) No.
(6)(a) A review of the ESOS, by the Hon Bruce Baird AM, was recently completed on behalf of the Commonwealth Government ("the Baird Review"). The Baird Review recommends a number of amendments to the ESOS and its associated instruments. While the Commonwealth Government has agreed to begin work on implementing a number of recommendations from the review immediately, I am not aware of when any new criteria arising from it will be introduced.
(7) It is a matter for the Commonwealth Government to implement the recommendations of the Baird Review. I anticipate that in response to the Baird Review the Commonwealth Government will place greater accountability on providers for the agents they use to attract international students to Australia.
(7)(a) It was recommended in the Baird Review that the ESOS be amended to restrict unethical recruitment practices by introducing financial penalties for providers whose offshore agents act unethically.
(8) Under the ESOS the Commonwealth Government has principal responsibility for assisting students affected by a college closure. This includes responsibility for tuition fee protection arrangements which provide either an alternative placement or a refund. The Department of Education Services has a contingency plan to work with the Commonwealth and industry associations to mitigate the effects on students of a college closure. This plan was implemented when St Marks College closed in January 2010. The Department also has a client qualification register that keeps a permanent record of student achievements during and after their studies with an education provider in Western Australia.
(8)(a) Not applicable.
(9) A key initiative of my portfolio in 2009 was the establishment of a new program of State Government support for international education in Western Australia. The core component of this program is funding provided to Perth Education City to support the promotion of the Western Australian International Education brand, targeting markets of greatest benefit to industry and the community. As part of this role, Perth Education City provides students, parents and counsellors with information about living and studying in Western Australia. On two occasions I met with the Honorary Indian Consul, Sushma Paul and a small delegation of students, to discuss matters relating to the welfare of Indian students in Western Australia. On three occasions I discussed this matter with the Vice Chancellors of the Western Australian universities at meetings of the Western Australian Higher Education Council.
(10) September 2009; September 2009 and January 2010; May 2009, August 2009 and February 2010.
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The legal framework governing the responsibility of education institutions towards international students in Western Australia is defined by the Commonwealth Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS) and the State Education Service Providers (Full Fee Overseas Students) Registration Act 1991 (ESPRA). In order to provide education services to international students providers must be registered with both the Commonwealth and State Government.
(2) Yes.
(3) By 31 December 2010.
(4) Not Applicable.
(5) The existing criteria for registration defined by the ESOS are principally set out in the National Code of Practice 2007 ("the National Code"). All international education providers in Australia must comply with the provisions of the National Code. The Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations administers the ESOS and the National Code. The ESOS and the National Code are publicly available from the Commonwealth's Australian Education International website.
Unlike most other States and Territories, Western Australia also has its own Act, the ESPRA, to regulate providers and protect students. In addition to the National Code, the ESPRA requires providers to demonstrate that they are financially viable and students' pre-paid fees are safeguarded.
On top of these existing requirements, two additional criteria were recently introduced by the Commonwealth Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Re-registration of Providers and Other Measures) Act 2010. These new criteria require providers to also demonstrate their principal purpose is to provide education and that they have the capacity to provide education of a satisfactory standard.
(6) No.
(6)(a) A review of the ESOS, by the Hon Bruce Baird AM, was recently completed on behalf of the Commonwealth Government ("the Baird Review"). The Baird Review recommends a number of amendments to the ESOS and its associated instruments. While the Commonwealth Government has agreed to begin work on implementing a number of recommendations from the review immediately, I am not aware of when any new criteria arising from it will be introduced.
(7) It is a matter for the Commonwealth Government to implement the recommendations of the Baird Review. I anticipate that in response to the Baird Review the Commonwealth Government will place greater accountability on providers for the agents they use to attract international students to Australia.
(7)(a) It was recommended in the Baird Review that the ESOS be amended to restrict unethical recruitment practices by introducing financial penalties for providers whose offshore agents act unethically.
(8) Under the ESOS the Commonwealth Government has principal responsibility for assisting students affected by a college closure. This includes responsibility for tuition fee protection arrangements which provide either an alternative placement or a refund. The Department of Education Services has a contingency plan to work with the Commonwealth and industry associations to mitigate the effects on students of a college closure. This plan was implemented when St Marks College closed in January 2010. The Department also has a client qualification register that keeps a permanent record of student achievements during and after their studies with an education provider in Western Australia.
(8)(a) Not applicable.
(9) A key initiative of my portfolio in 2009 was the establishment of a new program of State Government support for international education in Western Australia. The core component of this program is funding provided to Perth Education City to support the promotion of the Western Australian International Education brand, targeting markets of greatest benefit to industry and the community. As part of this role, Perth Education City provides students, parents and counsellors with information about living and studying in Western Australia. On two occasions I met with the Honorary Indian Consul, Sushma Paul and a small delegation of students, to discuss matters relating to the welfare of Indian students in Western Australia. On three occasions I discussed this matter with the Vice Chancellors of the Western Australian universities at meetings of the Western Australian Higher Education Council.
(10) September 2009; September 2009 and January 2010; May 2009, August 2009 and February 2010.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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