Australia to cap international students

The Australian government's proposal to cap international student enrollments in higher education could result in the loss of 14,000 jobs and a significant economic impact of A$4.3 billion, according to Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy. He criticized the plan, which limits international students to 40% of total enrollments for two years starting January 2025, as an unprecedented ministerial overreach. Sheehy highlighted that a 23% drop in student visa approvals last year already led to a decrease of 59,410 university students, which has raised concerns regarding the nation's housing crisis. The international education sector, which is Australia's second-largest export, supports around 250,000 jobs and contributes substantially to the economy. The government initially proposed this cap in the 2024 federal budget as a response to rising post-Covid-19 migration numbers and related community concerns. The final details of the policy are pending a parliamentary inquiry due to report by August 15, with the caps set to take effect in January 2025.