Australia Approves TOEFL Test for Student Visas

Students from around the world who wish to study in Australia can now use their TOEFL test scores as part of their visa application as announced by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

"I am very pleased the TOEFL test has been chosen as one of the new English test providers and I am confident they will provide a valuable service to student visa applicants," said the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Mr Bowen said he expected two other tests, the Pearson Test of English Academic and the Cambridge English: Advanced tests, would get official recognition for students visa australia later this year. "These additional English language test options will help to create competition in the English language testing market, while creating more test places for student visa applicants. They will also provide candidates with greater choice and enable them to more quickly obtain test results needed for visa applications,'' he said.

The announcement is significant for large numbers of international students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries who are interested in studying in Australia. They now have the opportunity to use the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English language proficiency, satisfying the required language component of the visa application process. The students from China, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the Philippines, who are interested in studying in Australia will benefit from this new change. International students until now had IELTS (International English Language Testing System) only to demonstrate their English language proficiency for Australia student visas. In Australia, the International English Language Testing System is operated by education giant IDP. Globally, IELTS is owned by Cambridge University, IDP and the British Council.

This is a big breakthrough for ETS, the company that owns TOEFL test. The TOEFL test widely accepted in more than 8000 colleges and universities worldwide.

Rajni Bhatla, Director of Kampus Landing says, “The acceptance of TOEFL test for Australian student visas ends the monopoly of IELTS. Now, students once rejected from the USA will be able to apply for Australia immediately.” Further, Rajni is optimistic that this step will provide a major boost to Australian colleges and universities.

Rajni Bhatla said, “The TOEFL test is widely accepted recognized by over 8,000 institutions in more than 130 countries. Globally, the TOEFL test is available at more than 4,500 testing sites. To date, more than 25 million students around the world have taken the TOEFL test.”

The Kampus Landing team expects to send good number of students to Australia this year. Rajni is hopeful that TOEFL in near future will also be accepted in other Australian visa categories.

About TOEFL

For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been the most widely accepted English language assessment in the world, recognised by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies including the most prestigious institutions in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. And with more than 4,500 test sites around the world, the TOEFL test is more convenient than ever for students wishing to apply for study in Australia.

Source   http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=106018

Aus govt nod to Pearson for student visa forms

Pearson, the world’s leading education company, announced today that the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has formally approved Pearson Test for English (PTE) Academic as fully satisfying the government’s requirements for testing the English language proficiency of student visa applicants. The decision means that for the first time in ten years, Australian institutions and their potential students will have a choice of government-approved English language testing options.

Chris Bowen, Australian minister for immigration and citizenship, commented: “I am very pleased Pearson has been chosen as one of the new English test providers and I am confident they will provide a valuable service to student visa applicants.”

Fraser Cargill, vice president, Government Relations for Pearson Asia Pacific, explains: “Pearson is proud to achieve DIAC recognition. Australian institutions are facing a challenging time in the increasingly competitive international student recruitment market and it is important that they have the best possible tools available to recruit students. PTE Academic offers a secure, reliable and quick way for Australian institutions to confidently ensure that they are recruiting students who have the right level of English for their courses.”

The computer-based test, already approved by the UK Border Agency, uses cutting edge technology to ensure ID integrity and to minimise cheating. It also offers the fastest score reporting in the market, with test takers receiving their results within five business days.

Source http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/aus-govt-nod-to-pearson-for-student-visa-forms/436834/

International students bringing in $100m for UOW

The University of Wollongong is reeling in close to $100 million a year from international student fees, the latest Auditor-General report reveals.

Overseas student numbers at UOW increased by roughly 4.5 per cent to 7414 in 2010, or almost 40 per cent of the university's overall population.

Last year, international student fee revenue increased to $97.4 million.

In his annual report to Parliament on the state's 10 public universities, Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat noted that Wollongong's large increase in fees and charges revenue in recent years was largely due to a spike in international student numbers.

Around the state, revenue from overseas students has increased 75 per cent in the past five years, contributing nearly 20 per cent, or $1.25 billion, of total revenue.

But in the wake of Australia's soaring dollar, recent changes to visa requirements and increased foreign competition, the university is likely to experience a decline in international numbers in the next two years, according to the report.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton insisted Wollongong's budget took into account variations in international numbers and would not expose the university to financial risk.

"The Auditor-General's report includes students studying at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, which operates independently and at a profit, as well as students enrolled in offshore courses in Singapore," he said.

"Nevertheless, we do have a strong student international presence of around 25 per cent ... We always budget conservatively on our international student numbers to allow for variations from year to year.

"Having said that, UOW is working hard to minimise the impact of factors outside of our control on overseas student numbers, such as the current strength of the Australian dollar."

In his report, the Auditor-General was critical of Wollongong's handling of leave owed to employees, after the university recorded an 18 per cent increase in the number of staff entitled to at least 40 days off.

That trend, combined with UOW's ageing workforce, produced a $39.7 million liability in long-service leave in 2010, at a rate more than double the sector average over the past five years.

More than 25 per cent of staff are now aged over 55.

UOW was heavily targeted in the Auditor-General's recommendations to reduce the amount of leave accrued.

"The university has not changed its annual leave policies and continues to experience an unfavourable upward trend in these balances," the report said.

"Excess leave balances result in additional expense to the university as the financial liability grows over time due to salary increases."

Prof Sutton said recent changes to leave accrual would help reduce the number of days owed to staff.

"Last year we negotiated with our 1000 non-academic staff a reduction in that accrual from 50 days to 40 days," he said.

"That negotiated reduction will be reflected in future years but does not show in these figures."

Source http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/international-students-bringing-in-100m-for-uow/2175099.aspx

Australia to increase skilled migrant visas

Australian government plans to increase visas in skilled migrant category that was targeted by cookery and hairdressing students by almost 30 per cent under its 2011-12 migration programme.

According to a report in 'The Australian' newspaper, the program projected over 29.6 per cent increase in independent skilled migrants, lifting the number of places to 44,350.

The government had been scrutinising this category after visa grants scam to low-skilled overseas students came into light, the report said.

The report quoted Monash University researcher Bob Birrell as saying that the extra spots were good news for former overseas students waiting for a decision on migration applications.

The government said the queue had shortened from 150,000-plus in May last year to just below 132,000 in April this year.

A tougher points test emphasising advanced skills and superior English starts on July 1.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen spokesperson said it would take time for applicants under the new points test to make their presence felt in the system.

"While it is not possible to predict accurately, it is likely that initially a large proportion of skilled independent visas will be granted to people who are assessed under the old points test," she said.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/australia-to-increase-skilled-migrant-visas/articleshow/8568663.cms

Australia Approves TOEFL® Test Scores for Student Visas

Students from around the world who wish to study in Australia can now use their TOEFL^® test scores as part of their visa application as announced by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

"I am very pleased the TOEFL test has been chosen as one of the new English test providers and I am confident they will provide a valuable service to student visa applicants," said the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

This announcement has significant meaning for large numbers of international students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries, including China, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the Philippines, who are interested in studying in Australia. International students now have the opportunity to use the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English language proficiency, satisfying the required language component of the visa application process. 

"Nearly every university and college in Australia already accepts TOEFL scores for admission purposes. Today's announcement means that students globally can now use their TOEFL scores for both visa and academic admission purposes," explains David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS's Global Division.

For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been the most widely recognized English language assessment in the world, used by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies, including the most prestigious institutions in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. And with more than 4,500 test sites globally, the TOEFL test is more convenient than ever for students wishing to apply for study in Australia. 

"The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English language assessment worldwide. It is popular with prospective students and agents in all of Australia's major source markets. I'm sure that all of Australia's universities, VET and English language providers join me in welcoming the re-introduction of the TOEFL test for student visa purposes," commented Jeffrey Smart, Pro Vice- Chancellor (International and Recruitment) at Melbourne's Swinburne University of Technology. "For many years, students have been able to gain academic admission into Australia's universities on the basis of their TOEFL score: now applicants will be able to satisfy visa requirements with this test as well. With students in 165 countries taking the TOEFL test, the Department's decision provides a boost to Australia's international student recruitment efforts offering a larger and more diverse applicant pool."

More information about the TOEFL test, including registration dates and free sample test questions, is available at www.TOEFLGoAnywhere.org.

Source  http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=742963&Itemid=29

Student churn muddies picture of real state of visa applications

AN optimistic analysis of student visa applications from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has been dismissed by industry experts, who say the outlook is bleak and will continue so for some time to come.

Stephen Connelly, president of the International Education Association of Australia, said second semester commencement figures would be the true indicator of any upturn but there was no sign of that yet.

"Overall, my impression is semester two is still flat; we have not yet seen a kick from the improvement in visa assessment levels for India and China, so the situation is still bleak," Mr Connelly said.

In its quarterly report analysing visa applications and acceptances to the end of March, DIAC said 36,523 applications was the second highest March number in the past four years and that numbers were up 6.5 per cent from March 2010.

"March application data is nothing to celebrate when overall the figures look like they have gone backwards three or four years," Mr Connelly said.

But the report stated "student visa applications may be stabilising from the decrease experienced in 2009 and 2010".

The March increase was driven entirely by a seasonal rise in onshore applications, obscuring the ongoing heavy falls in offshore applications.

English Australia executive director Sue Blundell warned offshore numbers were the key measure of new students and that the falls were "alarming".

Offshore applications in March were down 20 per cent from a year ago at just 7571.

IEAA executive director Dennis Murray said the increase in onshore applications reflected a churn of existing students.

"With offshore applications well down, we are cannibalising onshore numbers, which all adds up to an unsustainable situation over the longer term," he said. "I can't see any improvement in sight, onshore or offshore, for some time ahead . . . especially given continuing ambiguous messages from the federal government about whether international students are valued and welcome in Australia," Mr Murray said.

Total student visas granted for the nine months to March were down 11 per cent from a year ago, with the granting of offshore visas plummeting 24 per cent.

The forward picture is similarly down with total visa applications for the nine months to March down almost 8 per cent, but with offshore applications down 25 per cent. The vocational sector has been hit hardest with nine month 2010-11 offshore visa applications tumbling 52 per cent to 15,575.

Offshore applications for the English-language sector were down 15 per cent to the end of March, while offshore applications were down by 22 per cent.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/student-churn-muddies-picture-of-real-state-of-visa-applications/story-e6frgcjx-1226062241189

Alternative English language tests added for Australian student visa applicants

Student visa applicants will now be able to use the TOEFL test to provide evidence of their English language ability.

Student visa applicants will be able to use the 'Test of English as a Foreign Language' (TOEFL) US-based testing for English language competency, Australian Immigration minister Chris Bowen announced today.

The move by the Australian government to allow student visa applicants to use the 'Test of English as a Foreign Language' (TOEFL) test when demonstrating English language ability is one that will be of interest to anyone looking to apply for skilled Australia immigration. 

One of the changes to the skilled immigration application process that is set to be implemented on 1 July with the new Australian points test is that all skilled migrants will be required to take an English language test. Under existing rules, only test results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are permitted and applicants are only required to take it if they need to demonstrate competency in English or are using the test to obtain further points. 

Students have also had to use the IELTS testing system but along with the introduction of TOEFL, Mr. Bowen has said he expects the Pearson Test of English Academic and the Cambridge English: Advanced Tests schemes to receive official recognition for student visas later this year. 

"These additional English language test options will help to create competition in the English language testing market, while creating more test places for student visa applicants. They will also provide candidates with greater choice and enable them to more quickly obtain test results needed for visa applications'' he said. 

Mr Bowen went to suggest that other visa categories could eventually open up to competition between English language tests, although he would look closely at how the new tests perform with student visas first. 

Source   http://www.visabureau.com/australia/news/20-05-2011/alternative-english-language-tests-added-for-australian-student-visa-applicants.aspx

Whether a big Australia or small, immigration can't be ignored

The issue of population has been a contentious one as Australians have heard one leader extol the virtues of a "big Australia" (Kevin Rudd), while his successor, Julia Gillard, shrank from the term and added sustainability to the population minister's portfolio.

Now, that minister, Tony Burke, has released a report on population that is short and contains a glaring omission — meaningful discussion of immigration's role in population growth.

Based upon the immigration intake and previous projections by Treasury, Australia's population is likely to increase to about 36 million by 2050. Yet, the report, Sustainable Australia - Sustainable Communities, makes no mention of any number.

Burke has argued that it is impossible to set population targets, given the variety of factors that can inform population growth. But demographers at the University of Queensland have recently argued that even if we do not set targets, we can, and should, project population ranges. They project that our population in 2050 will be between 29 and 43 million and that there is a 50 per cent likelihood it will be more than 36 million.

Immigration is a big part of the picture here, and one of the few areas of population growth that government can seek to control. It is vital that we consider how immigration fits into the picture.

The report avoids discussion of immigration, most likely because of the political sensitivities around the issue. Just two of the 82 pages of Burke's report are dedicated to the subject. In doing so, it fails to address the importance of immigration, in particular temporary immigration, for population growth. Although it cannot predict the future, government can project, albeit within large margins of error, how much immigration contributes to overall population growth. Net overseas migration is the net gain or loss of population through immigration and emigration. In a report last year, the Productivity Commission said that in 2008/9, this contributed 65 per cent to population growth. Compare this to 1979-80 when it was just 30 per cent.

Some of this growth in net overseas migration related to Australians returning, but the vast majority was a result of increases in temporary migration, in particular increases in international students in recent years. Yet the title "temporary migration" is a bit of a misnomer – in recent years about one-third of international students have changed over to permanent visas following completion of their studies.

Whether international students will continue to add to long-term population growth depends very much on the effectiveness of attempts by Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, to decouple tertiary education from immigration selection. The new points test for skilled immigration, to be released in July 2012, emphasises extensive work experience and high levels of education, rather than defining preferred skills according to a Migration Occupations in Demand List. This list, which was expanded by the Howard government, motivated some international students to enrol in courses that scored highly and contributed to oversupply into the permanent general skilled migration category. The new test appears to reduce this link and thereby, potentially, alleviate long-term pressures on population growth presented by international students.

Nonetheless, Bowen faces a number of new pressure points that could continue to contribute to population growth in the future. The first relates to those 40,000 students visa who applied under the old points test and whose applications for permanent residency are pending. Legal challenges by these students are being contemplated to expedite processing. If successful, these students would gain permanent residency to Australia and would enjoy rights of family reunification, as all permanent residents do, and should.

The second pressure point relates to the budget announcements for an increase in the number of temporary worker visas (457s) and new Enterprise Migration Agreements for "mega resource projects" with capital expenditure of more than $2 million and with more than 1500 workers. It appears that these Enterprise Migration Agreements will be used to bring in migrants, including semi-skilled migrants, who might not otherwise be eligible under 457 visas.

What do these changes mean for population growth? It is important to remember that any migrant who spends 12 out of 16 months in Australia is counted towards the figures for net overseas migration, thereby contributing to the current population size in the short-term.

Even if international student immigration declines in the long-term, will the immigration associated with the Mining Boom Mark II contribute to long-term permanent migration? Although this migration is temporary, there may be opportunities to move onto permanent visas. At present, about half of 457 visa holders move on to permanent residency.

And while we do not yet know the details of the Enterprise Migration Agreements, we do know from experience with semi-skilled guest worker systems in other countries that real temporary migration is difficult to achieve. Given the opportunity to come to Australia, semi-skilled workers may wish to stay. They may search for other visas, or illegal means, to remain.

When the 2010 Intergenerational Report projected that Australia's population would rise to about 36 million by 2050, it was based upon projections of a net overseas migration rate of 180,000 per year. The budget papers make it clear that permanent immigration into Australia in 2011-2012 will be about 185,000. This figure does not include temporary migration from students or short-term business migration. These figures should have been included by Burke in his report.

While the government cannot predict the future, it can make projections, and open discussion about likely net overseas migration is an important part of this conversation. It should have been a central part of Burke's report.

Source   http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/whether-a-big-australia-or-small-immigration-cant-be-ignored-20110523-1f0c8.html