Impact of Covid 19 on Tertiary Education Sector

Written by: Ned K. on 3 August 2021

The federal Department of Home Affairs data for the year ending June 2021 shows that International Student numbers for the year were down by about 100,000 which equated to a $6 billion hole in the economy overall. 

This $6 billion includes an estimate of loss of "export income" to the universities here, but also loss of profits to the accommodation and retail and other service sectors. 

So, it is not difficult to see why some state governments have been desperate to find ways to get overseas students back into Australia to fill the vacant high rise apartments that have sprung up in most capital cities for overseas students to fill.

However, all is not as gloom and doom for the universities as they would make out. Despite the growing attack by the Morrison Government on China as a national security threat to Australia, and verbal and trade retaliation by the Chinese Government, Chinese students (and presumably their parents with the money) comprise 56% of all visa holders currently based outside Australia. 56% represents about 90,000 people.

International Education Association chief executive Phil Honeywood, a former Minister in Jeff Kennett’s government, said that Chinese students had taken up offshore online study at Australian universities much more than other overseas students.

This has been a financial saviour for universities here, Honeywood said.

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