The press gallery hackery is talking-up lobbying by international education advocates but HE leadership knows there is nothing it can do to change the government’s ban on arrivals from China

As Universities Australia CEO,  Catriona Jackson put it yesterday, ““We will continue to work closely together, understanding there is still so much to do.”

But not much that can be done. Ms Jackson praised Education Minister Dan Tehan for delivering, “on his promise of providing maximum flexibility,” pointing to government assistance for universities to, “undertake the significant task of making direct contact with all 100,000 Chinese students who remain outside of Australia.”

Otherwise, university responses, “include offering online learning for those students who remain in China, postponing course start dates, delaying assessments or offering deferrals.” It may not be much, but there isn’t much more that is politically possible.