Victoria will set aside a quarter of its regional skilled work visas for international students studying at the state’s universities and TAFEs, as part of an effort to attract more students despite federal caps on placements, The Age reports.
Premier Jacinta Allan made the announcement during her visit to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan school in Delhi, as she continues to promote Victoria’s education sector to India, the world’s most populous nation.
Under the plan, the Victorian government will reserve at least 25 per cent of places for the Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491) for graduates of local universities and TAFEs in the 2024-25 financial year. The government estimates this could guarantee around 500 visas for international students this year, The Age report said.
Applicants who secure the visa will be required to live and work in regional Victoria, with the option to apply for permanent residency after three years. The scheme aims to boost the number of skilled workers in regions outside Melbourne, filling shortages in areas such as advanced manufacturing, social services, hospitality, and tourism.
In the previous financial year, 365 international students applied for the regional visa. This new initiative seeks to significantly increase that number, The Age reported.
“International students are essential to Victoria’s vibrant, multicultural community,” Allan said. “We are ensuring that when students complete their studies, they have every opportunity to live and work in regional Victoria, where their skills are most needed.
“We’re focused on providing pathways for international graduates to build their futures in regional areas, addressing workforce shortages while offering graduates the chance to contribute to our growing regional cities.”
The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is an Indian educational trust founded in 1938, which now operates over 100 primary and secondary schools.
Earlier, Allan spoke at the International Education and Skills Summit, one of India’s largest education industry events, held at the India International Convention & Expo Centre.
“It is a great pleasure to be here in Delhi over the past three days, and I come with three big priorities – education, education, and education,” Allan told the summit audience. “Victoria is Australia’s number one destination for international students, particularly Indian students, and we want to see more students studying in Melbourne and across Victoria, not fewer.”
Allan invited attendees, including institutes and prospective students, to visit Victoria and explore the opportunities available.
The premier also outlined her government’s efforts to navigate around the Albanese government’s proposed international student caps, which have sparked concern over limiting economic growth.
On Monday, Allan announced a $5 million fund to encourage Victorian universities and TAFEs to establish foreign campuses or offer dual degrees in partnership with other institutions.
In 2023, more than 234,000 international students from 170 countries were studying in Victoria., The Age report added.
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