DIRK MULDER
Before COVID-19 put international student intentions on-hold Indian and Nepalese students were moving from HE to VET
As I reported last week (CMM June 9,10), March YTD data demonstrated students from India and Nepal are driving VET growth, with enrolments concentrated in four course areas, (CMM June 10). It’s a big change, and one, a learned reader points out, with important implications. The LR suggested looking at the churn rate for these students, which I did, to discover.
From HE to VET: Visa data demonstrates that 3643 (57 per cent) of Indians studying in VET had previously studied in the Australian HE sector. In comparison, 2,075 (32.5 per cent) did not have a visa prior to commencing.
The situation for Nepalese is similar, with 920 students (47.5 per cent) previously studying in HE compared to 790 students (40.8 percent) who had not held a student visa prior to studying.
Overlaying onshore v offshore visa grants for the two countries confirms the prior studies data.
Offshore grant rates for both India and Nepal have plummeted – India had 1480 offshore VET visa grants in financial year 2018-19, compared to 484 for financial year 2019-20 (to April 30). While Nepal had 5654 offshore and 384 for the same time periods.
Onshore went the other way. India had 6509 onshore (in Australia) VET visa grants in financial year 2018-19, compared to 9382 for financial year 2019-20 (to April 30). Nepal was not as stark having 3177 and 2538 for the same time periods.
What this may mean: The movement from HE to VET is a real one and it is large. Students are entering Australia in HE and converting to VET – a cheaper and potentially shorter course offering.
For the cohort of students whose last course was higher ed prior to heading into VET, the question is did they complete their original course and then start VET to get a job?
Or did they course hop?
What we need now: We need to know whether big international markets are starting to think VET is a better career basis than HE. Unless VET is now seen as a more cost-effective path to permanent residency.
Completion data by nationality needs to be the new big thing in compliance analysis.
Dirk Mulder is CMM’s international education correspondent