A milestone has been achieved in efforts to see international students return to study in South Australia.
An International Student Arrival Plan devised by the state government has received Commonwealth endorsement – an important first step in efforts to bring our students back for face-to-face learning.
Flinders University has been involved in discussions with fellow institutions, Study Adelaide and the state government to achieve a safe and effective return plan for our international students.
Vice President and Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Sebastian Raneskold says in the first half of this year Flinders had more than 700 international students following our courses online from offshore, including new students starting in Semester 1, 2021.
“We are actively working with students to ensure that to the extent it is possible, they can continue their studies wherever they may be,” Mr Raneskold says.
“However, in some instances they are running out of options, and this is most urgent for those who were stranded back in February 2020 and enrolled in courses with mandatory clinical placements.
“The green light for the ISAP is a positive step towards our students being able to resume their studies with us in person and refocus on their career ambitions and life goals, while once again being part of South Australia’s social and cultural fabric. It also reflects our efforts to safely and successfully resume face-to-face learning over the past 12 months.
“I particularly wish to acknowledge the state government’s leadership in developing a plan that is sound and meets the rigorous criteria required by health authorities. Now that the SA Government has received commonwealth endorsement for their ISAP, we can begin work on logistical matters such as how many students from which institutions can return, and what criteria will determine the order of who returns when.
“Once these aspects are clearer it should pave the way for us to start to welcome back our much-missed students in the coming few months.
“We won’t be able to bring back everyone at once but hope that with care and patience we can eventually get everyone back to immerse themselves in Flinders University’s rich and collaborative learning environment.
“Our students are already buoyed by this development, getting in touch with comments such as ‘thank you very much; indeed, this good news for all offshore students. My spirit lifted with gladness that despite the long wait, we can see some light now.’
“This news will also be very welcome by South Australian businesses, with the return of students creating more jobs and making a significant contribution to our local economy.
“It’s well known that as an industry international education contributes $2.2billion to the state’s economy annually, but perhaps less visible has been the profound social and cultural benefits our students bring, and the valuable, lasting global connections they create, something impossible to place a dollar value on, but nonetheless incredibly precious.
“Whilst we work to put the ISAP into action, I am really pleased that during semester 1 this year 39 international students secured individual travel exemptions as per the federal governments prescribed process, and returned to continue their studies with us.”
Mr Raneskold says students from specified health disciplines as well as HDR students in areas of national interest can be eligible for a travel exemption in certain circumstances, and Flinders International staff are now preparing to work with a group of up to 140 international students from NHS and MPH who potentially fit the criteria to return during semester 2 this year.