INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS campusreview . com . au
Macquarie vice-chancellor Bruce Dowton
Andrew Norton , professor of higher education policy at ANU
‘ Reputational risk ’
Group of Eight warns against international student levy
By Erin Nixon
The Australian Universities Accord has proposed a tax on international student fees as a possible solution to better fund the nation ’ s research capabilities and infrastructure .
The Accord panel released its interim report on July 19 , with a final report due in December .
Education Minister Jason Clare and Accord Panel Chair Mary O ’ Kane said they wished to encourage a ‘ pithy ’ debate on the report ’ s findings , which included a proposed levy on international student enrolments .
“ Government can ’ t fund everything ,” Mr Clare said in a speech to the National Press Club .
Tuition fees paid by international students are the second-largest source of overall revenue for Australian universities , bringing in around $ 8.7bn in 2021 .
As not-for-profit bodies , public universities are not taxed on income from international student enrolments .
“ Public universities can reinvest surplus funds into higher education and research , including capital development ,” a Universities Australia spokesperson said .
Regional universities are disadvantaged by the demand-driven funding model , unable to attain the same high number of international student enrolments seen at large inner-city universities .
Andrew Norton , professor of higher education policy at ANU , said international student fees have widened the resource gap between institutions , and enabled the universities with high enrolments to vastly increase their research output .
POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO REPUTATION
The Group of Eight ( Go8 ), which represents Australia ’ s leading research-intensive universities , said an overseas student levy could risk our institutions ’ global reputation .
“ We must be mindful to avoid the risk that proposals , such as a levy on international students , don ’ t undermine our nation ’ s hard-won and enduring successes in areas such as our global strength in international education ,” a Go8 statement read .
The Accord interim report did not provide detail on how much an international student levy would be .
International students are enormously valuable to not just the Australian economy , but Australian culture and Australian society
In a panel discussion at HEDX in Sydney , Macquarie vice-chancellor Bruce Dowton speculated that the interim report ’ s omission of financial modelling was likely deliberate .
He said the issue needs to be urgently addressed .
“ The levy on international students needs quick economic modelling so we don ’ t risk a downturn in international student enrolments ," Professor Dowton said .
Universities Australia chief Catriona Jackson said the government would need to carefully consider the impact a levy would have on international students .
“ We think that international students are enormously valuable to not just the Australian economy , but Australian culture and Australian society ," Ms Jackson said . ■
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