Lismore is a town of about 44,000 people situated in northern New South Wales - see map.
It is home to one of the campuses of the Southern Cross University (SCU). 654 students from 57 countries are presently enrolled in degree courses at SCU. The number of students studying at SCU's three campuses in Lismore, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast has been growing steadily in recent years. In the last 12 months numbers have jumped by a further 13%.
Many international students seek study opportunities outside Australia's major cities in order to enjoy the experience of rural Australia. Their presence in towns like Lismore delivers huge benefits to the local economy. SCU estimates that international students at its Lismore campus contribute A$20 million annually.
Interestingly SCU has identified and capitalised on a niche market by recruiting Canadian students to undertake teacher training courses, including a Bachelor of Teaching. The SCU course meets a supply shortage in Canada where teacher training places are limited. There are now approximately 60 Canadian students studying teaching at SCU.
Friday 20 June 2008
Saturday 7 June 2008
International students buck negative tourism trend
An article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 7 June 2008 paints a gloomy picture of the trends in tourist visits to Australia. In the year to the end of March 2008 80,000 fewer arrivals specified that the purpose of their visit was for a holiday, compared to the same period last year. The downward trend is not surprising given current pressures in the global economy, including the credit crunch and a very strong Australian dollar.
The good news for CRICOS providers and others involved in international student recruitment is that the upward trend in the arrival of international students remains strong. The number of inbound students grew by 10% in the period.
According to the DIAC 2006-07 Annual Report the total number of student visa grants in 2005-06 was 190 674. In 2006-07 it was 228 592, constituting a very substantial increase of 19.89%. It will be interesting to see if the strength of that trend has been maintained over the 2007-08 financial year. We'll follow up and report back on this issue as soon as the DIAC 2007-08 Annual report is released.
The good news for CRICOS providers and others involved in international student recruitment is that the upward trend in the arrival of international students remains strong. The number of inbound students grew by 10% in the period.
According to the DIAC 2006-07 Annual Report the total number of student visa grants in 2005-06 was 190 674. In 2006-07 it was 228 592, constituting a very substantial increase of 19.89%. It will be interesting to see if the strength of that trend has been maintained over the 2007-08 financial year. We'll follow up and report back on this issue as soon as the DIAC 2007-08 Annual report is released.
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