South Australia has launched a slew of measures aimed at improving the safety of overseas students, including the steadily increasing community of higher education aspirants from India, South Australian Premier Mike Rann said on Monday.
South Australia's commitment to this goal, which it shares with the Federal government, is reflected in measures that include the commissioning of the McCann Review — which has recommended strengthening the current Training and Skills Development Act — and acting on the findings of a task force set up last year to provide the best education and lifestyle experience for international students.
“South Australia will not tolerate racism, racial violence or violence against anyone,” Mr. Rann told The Hindu . The McCann report was scheduled to be tabled in Parliament this month when the State would seek to introduce stronger regulatory measures against education providers who flouted rules and harsher penalties for non-compliance, Mr. Rann said.
In fact, a key amendment proposed to the current legislation sought to empower the Training and Skills Commission to intervene more quickly and suspend a provider's registration following failure to demonstrate that they were fit to be registered.
Adelaide was chosen as the safest city in a recent survey of 6,000 overseas students. The South Australian city, destination for about 34,000 international students from over 130 countries, including about 7,000 candidates from India, was also ranked in the survey to be the friendliest and most affordable.
“Going by the current trends, the proportion of overseas students is expected to cross 60,000 in the next five years,” said Mr. Rann, who had written personally to every Indian student in Adelaide, highlighting his commitment to their safety and wellbeing.
Extending parity for overseas students in public transport concessions and establishment of the Office of the Training Advocate — a support and counselling service for foreign students — were among the measures aimed at the welfare of the international student community.
“The recently signed International Student Strategy for Australia 2010-14, which complements the task force recommendations, mandates education providers with implementing a student safety plan, an engagement strategy to involve students in community life and improve handling of student complaints, fee protection and quality guarantees.”
Asked whether the measures had helped reassure parents of Indian higher education aspirants, Mr. Rann said the increasing Indian enrolments in Adelaide institutions was perhaps the most telling sign that Indian parents have confidence in the measures being taken.
