Key PointsA new bilateral migration deal outlines changes to visa rules to boost labour mobility.A new pilot scheme will also be created offering 3,000 places annually for early career professionals in India.The Indian-born population is the second largest migrant community in Australia.A new migration deal signed between Australia and India has been praised for creating more opportunities for young people and early career professionals in both countries.The migration deal was signed during Narendra Modi’s first visit to Australia in nine years, adding to a completed in the last year. An interim bilateral trade agreement has been in operation for five…

Published on June 25th, 2022 at 08:00am EDT Updated on June 25th, 2022 at 10:45am EDT Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser believes meaningful steps are being taken to get the immigration system back on track. Fraser acknowledged ongoing application processing and client experience challenges when he sat down with CIC News for an exclusive interview in Toronto earlier this week. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Immigration Minister: Applicants can soon expect normal service standards TRANSCRIPT BELOW– Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser believes meaningful steps are being taken to get the immigration system back on track. Fraser acknowledged…

The 2022 edition of Campus France’s Key Figures (in French) announced that “student mobility is back – with changes”.  It found that France now has 365,000 international students, giving an increase of 18% over five years earlier. The report analyses the changing landscape of student mobility as a result of three unprecedented crises – the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the war on Ukraine and aims to give a snapshot of the situation, as the sector awaits UNESCO figures at the end of the year. Despite the pandemic, the total number of international students in France remained fairly stable (-1%) in 2020/21, compared to the previous…

Universities Canada stated the goal of the new Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 program is to “educate, train, and empower” thousands of people from over 24 developing countries. The program – part of a $500m package for “key priorities”, such as food security, climate change and gender equality – was announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda. It is being funded by Global Affairs Canada and will focus on providing high-quality education and training opportunities that address inequality, and help to improve individuals’ lives and communities. Trudeau said it is a “critical time” for countries to “come together to stand…

The International Education Association of Australia noted that the “discovery of significant delays to student visa processing times has come at the worst possible time for Australia’s beleaguered international education sector”. A backlog in visa processing extends to regional skilled worker visas, topping 16,400, as reported by AFR. Australia’s newly elected government has sprung into action, as the country is losing precious time in getting not only the international students, but also the much needed skilled workers onshore within reasonable timeframes. “My focus is on making sure that we clear this backlog as quickly and as efficiently as possible, in…

Short on time? Here are the highlights: 65% of US colleges responding to an IIE Spring 2022 Snapshot Survey report that they are receiving more international student applications for the coming academic year than in 2020 or 2021 More than 9 in 10 are committed to hosting international students in-person, on campus Over two-thirds are working with agents in their recruitment activities and agents are viewed as the most helpful of channels/strategies, along with online events, leveraging the power of current international students, and international partnerships The Institute of International Education (IIE) has released its Spring 2022 Snapshot on International…

by DIRK MULDER But officials warn it will take time to recruit needed staff Sluggish processing of visas is having  a negative impact on the international education sector’s ability to rebound from borders closures (CMM 20/6/22). Sector reps expressed serious concerns at a Friday meeting of the Education Visa Consultative Committee and were assured by Home Affairs reps that the government has issued a clear direction to recruit the staff they require to ensure student visas are prioritised. CMM understands Home Affairs representative conceded that processing of student visas is slower than prior to the pandemic. However while recruitment has…

Short on time? Here are the highlights: Fear of contracting COVID is almost a non-factor in most international students’ decision-making about where to study abroad Instead, students say concerns about the future and finances play a huge role in their decisions about where to study What a lot has changed in the span of two years – or even one. Looking back on our reporting in 2020 and 2021, prevalent themes included students’ struggles with mental health, consumers’ growing expectation that brands be more profound and caring in their communications, and governments’ responses to COVID-19 playing a role in the popularity…

WITH MANY Indian students complaining of delays in the visa process, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday called the ambassadors/ deputy chiefs of missions of eight countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Germany, and asked them to “streamline” and “fast-track” the process. “Senior MEA officials dealing with Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, UK & USA had constructive discussions with corresponding heads of missions/ senior diplomats of these countries about streamlining student visas to Indian nationals,” the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, tweeted. “They agreed to remain engaged on further easing…