People applying for the points-tested general skilled migration visa, must be over 18 and less than 45 years of age at the time they lodge their application. Applicants must be able to demonstrate good English language skills; be able to nominate an occupation on the Australia Skilled Occupation List (SOL); be found suitable to work in that occupation by the relevant Australian assessing authority and be able to demonstrate recent work experience in a skilled occupation or meet the two-year study requirement.

Points will be awarded for skills; age; English language ability; specific work experience; a migration occupation in the demand list occupation, Australian qualification and regional Australian study, partner skills, nomination by a state/territory government agency or sponsorship by an eligible relative in Australia.

The points test also rewards applicants wishing to settle in a regional or low population growth area of Australia, where sponsorship is received from an eligible relative residing in a regional, or low population growth area of Australia. The pass mark for the independent skilled visa is 120 points. Obviously, Indian students who are already enrolled in Australian institutions will have an advantage for the skill stream visas. Besides this short-term increase in the number of permanent visas, the Australian government is also taking steps to improve the capacity to deliver skills where they are needed.

“For Indian students, Australia offers a dynamic learning environment. International students experience a unique kind of education – a learning style that encourages innovative, creative, independent thinking. Students will solve problems, interact with other people, and develop oral and written communication skills that will prepare them for their future. International students gain skills in Australia that help them to launch their careers and set them apart in the eyes of employers,” says Linda Laker, minister-counsellor, education, employment and workplace relations at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi.

Education in Australia provides Indian students with an edge when it comes to global job opportunities and they can select from thousands of courses and have the flexibility to choose the study path that best suits their goals, adds Ms Laker. The most sought after courses by Indian students are in the fields of business, engineering and information technology. Science related courses like biotechnology are also gaining popularity, whilst hospitality remains popular too.

Of course, the advantage that students who have spent two years in Australia enjoy when applying for permanent residence is a big draw. Many Indian students, who avail themselves of educational loans to fund their courses in Australia, look at jobs and permanent residence under the skilled migration programmes as their best option. Foreign students are also allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during their semesters.

“The permanent residence rules are undoubtedly an explanation for the huge growth in the number of Indian students choosing Australia. In fact, it’s not just the top tier of Indian students who are going to Australia’s premier Group of Eight universities – there are many others looking at less known colleges as well. Various institutions from Australia, meanwhile, are reaching out to Indian students in a big way. The fact that higher education in Australia has very rigorous quality checks is helping Indian students in selecting suitable courses besides the appreciating US dollar is also making education Down Under better value for money,” says David Woodhouse, president, International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education, who is based in Melbourne.

Ms Laker feels that the friendly campus environment in Australia, too, is a big attraction for Indian students. “In 2006, we hosted international students from over 200 different nationalities. Of these, around 39,000 were Indian students.

This rich diversity of nationalities ensures that students will make lifelong friends with students from around the world as well as from Australia. Indian students choose to study in Australia for a variety of reasons.

The International Student Satisfaction Survey conducted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations in Australia found that the most important factors influencing students decisions to study in Australia include it being a safe and secure environment, an English speaking country and the opportunity to experience a new culture and lifestyle. The most important reasons for choosing a course in Australia also included the quality of education and reputation of the institution,” she says.

Of late, the Australian government and Australian Education International have been making significant efforts for improvement of client services in the area of student visas. “Our online visa service improves access for many student visa applicants, both offshore and in Australia. Within Australia all applicants for further student visas are able to apply online for their visa. Our department is also conducting a trial of these online services for students applying from outside Australia in four markets (India, China, Indonesia and Thailand) through the use of eVisa agents,” Ms Laker says. The online services, known as student eVisa, have proved very popular with Indian applicants. More than 80% of applications lodged in 2007-08 to date in India have been lodged online through student eVisa.

Meanwhile, in the face of growing tensions among Indian students in Australia after certain unsavoury incidents at some campuses, the Australian government is playing a pro-active role in ensuring that international students have legal protection. “The Education Services for Overseas Students Act is unique to Australia and ensures that students get the quality course for which they have paid besides providing many other assurances to the international student and their family,” Ms Laker says.

source: Economic Times, India – 3 Apr, 2008