FedUni in favour of international fund

FEDERATION University staff have welcomed a new State Government initiative aimed at attracting more students from overseas.

Announced by Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday last week during a visit to Delhi, India, the Yes to International Students Fund is set to provide $5 million in seed funding for TAFEs and universities to support education partnerships between local and overseas institutions.

The program is designed to assist universities to establish offshore campuses or co-deliver dual degree programs in partnership with international institutions.

“Federation strongly supports the new initiative, which presents an invaluable opportunity to strengthen the university’s network of key partnerships in India and other countries to deliver a unique, impactful transnational education experience through the Federation Co-Operative Education Model,” a statement from the uni said.

Federation University Australia vice-chancellor and president Professor Duncan Bentley said the funding will benefit both local and international students.

“The Yes to International Students Fund exemplifies how well-designed policy can achieve objectives that benefit all parties, with students and universities alike set to gain from this proposal,” he said.

“This initiative is an important opportunity to help safeguard the sustainability of regional universities, while also supporting regional development by bolstering Australia’s international education sector.

“I would like to thank the Premier…the Treasurer…and the Minister for Skills and TAFE…for their ongoing support of Federation’s work and recognising the huge benefit international students provide to our communities.”

La Trobe University staff also supported the move in a recent release.

Federation University has recently come under fire following a decision to cut about 200 jobs after reporting nearly $80 million in revenue loss over the past five years due to a decline in international intake.