The COVID-19 crisis in Australian higher education

Worldwide, COVID 19 has cut a swathe through higher education, most particularly the international dimension. While domestic students may be inconvenienced by not being able to attend face-to-face classes, international students (as well as domestic research candidates undertaking fieldwork overseas) are often prevented from travelling. But the effects are differential. Systems that are particularly dependent on international students (UK, Australia, and New Zealand for example). are most vulnerable. For Australia, with on average, 25% of higher education enrolments international, the effects are dramatic. Tens of thousands of international students are trapped overseas, unable to return to Australia, to resume their studies (at least on campus). An urgent and unprecedented push to migrate programmes to online format, and enhance access, via VPNs etc., helped mitigate the worst effects, but each university is forecasting major financial losses. If the current restrictions do not ease in 2021, the situation will become much worse, exacerbated by the government’s steadfast refusal to lend assistance to the sector. The presentation will chart the effects and assess future prospects for the sector. Highlights: https://www.ln.edu.hk/global-higher-education-webinar-series/global02.htm