E-Paper
Oz varsities demand financial safety net for overseas students
Australian universities have demanded setting up of a financial safety net for international students amid reports indicating majority of them experienced monetary crunch.
Australian universities have demanded setting up of a financial safety net for international students amid reports indicating majority of them experienced monetary crunch.
A research was conducted jointly by the universities on the finances of foreign students and the paper asked the Australian government and educational institutions to set aside funds for such students.
Review of the 'specified minimum income' the students need to support themselves while studying, was also demanded from the government, 'The Australian' reported on Wednesday.
The findings of the research were released after serious concerns were raised on safety and security of overseas students who have been "soft targets" of attackers as they work long hours and rely on late night public transport.
In December, Victorian Taskforce on International education recommended that the commonwealth needed to ensure that a minimum of 12,000 Australian dollars was made available to the students.
The joint Melbourne-Monash qualitative study of opinions of overseas students from nine universities found 37 per cent experienced financial difficulties, which were often acute.
