Baird Report Sets Blueprint For Quality Education Of Overseas Students

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9th March 2010, 07:53pm - Views: 1037






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9

March 2010


Baird report sets blueprint for quality education of overseas

students  


TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) today welcomed the final report of the Baird review into

Australia’s international education industry.


TDA Acting Chief Executive, Pam Caven said the report provides a comprehensive examination

of critical elements of international student education and sets out a detailed plan of action to

redress these issues.


“This is a very sound report prepared by a highly-credentialed third party who has been able to

bring a fresh perspective to some entrenched problems in the international student market.


“We believe it has laid out a solid framework to overcome major issues that have threatened

Australia’s reputation for quality international education.


“We welcome the proposed establishment of a single Tuition Protection Service which provides

a much-needed safeguard for students who are innocently caught up in college failures.


“It is sensible that the cost of this scheme is proposed to be risk-based

but

as public TAFE

institutes represent no risk to international students they should not have to subsidise the

operations of private colleges.


“TDA is concerned that the TAFE institutes that present no risk to the consumer are being

penalized and linked to a scheme that by its own admission includes high risk providers. It does

not in our view provide satisfactory consumer protection.


“Action to address problems of agents and commissions and the introduction of financial

penalties should remove incentives to exploit loopholes and use education as a mechanism for

residency.


“We believe that the proposed tighter regulation of the industry is overdue and that the

measures outlined will help to protect individual students and also enhance Australia’s

reputation as a destination for overseas students.


“While it is welcome to see regulations strengthened in this blueprint, it will be to no avail if

they are not rigorously enforced by Government regulators,” Ms Caven said.


Contact: Pam Caven, TAFE Directors Australia, 02 9217 3180 or 0403 383 024

ABN: 39 070 265 734


National Secretariat

Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW

Turner Hall (Building B) 

Ultimo College

Crn Mary Ann and Harris

Streets Ultimo  NSW  2007

Media Release






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