Baird Review Released

10 March 2010 —

The much anticipated Baird Review into the legislation which governs international education in Australia - the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 - was released Tuesday 10 March, sending shockwaves through the $17B sector.

Commissioned by Education Minister Julia Gillard and developed over six months by former MP Bruce Baird, the report reviewed 150 submissions, including from the Migration Institute of Australia.

The following is a sampling of its RECOMMENDATIONS:

- That the Migration Act 1958 be amended to add flexibility to the current visa cancellation requirements for students failing to maintain satisfactory course progress

- That ESOS be amended to:

• Require providers to uphold the integrity of the student visa program and maintain appropriate support, English language entry levels and professional outcomes
• Only allow providers to maintain registration if they meet a series of thresholds
• Introduce financial penalties and clear standards
• Require an independent complaints body
• Ensure students can accurately compare potential study choices
• Introduce financial penalties for providers whose offshore agents act unethically
• Implement a unique identifier for each student

• 
  The report also offered a series of FINDINGS, separate from its recommendations, designed to enhance Australia's education reputation and support students by:

  - Researching the causes and frequency of violence against international students

  - Changing the skilled migration program settings to remove bias

  - Focusing on higher skilled qualifications in the VET and higher education sectors

  - Grandfathering future changes to skilled migration policy for students and recent graduates

  
  Click to read the following documents in full:

  Stronger, Simpler, Smarter ESOS: Supporting International Students, (Baird) review of Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 (PDF)
  The Migration Institute of Australia's Submission (10 November 2009) to the Baird Review
       -The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Response to the MIA's participation in Stronger, Simpler, Smarter ESOS (PDF) (125 Kb)
  Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000
  Migration Act 1958