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| SKIBIDI TOILET YA | |||
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| {{Short description|Type of educational institution}} | |||
| '''Ghost colleges''' are ] that have students enrolled on paper, but offer little or no legitimate instruction. Students at ghost colleges may rarely or never attend classes or engage in academic activities, and are often enrolled in order to obtain a student ] and engage in paid work rather than to study.<ref name = "SMHInvestigation">{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Clay |title=Rise of the ghost college: Thousands of students are enrolled in the city but they aren’t in class |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/rise-of-the-ghost-college-thousands-of-students-are-enrolled-in-the-city-but-they-aren-t-in-class-20230808-p5duwu.html |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=19 August 2023}}</ref> In ], ghost colleges are typically ] ] that enroll large numbers of ], particularly students from ] and ].<ref name = "SMHInvestigation"/> Media investigations<ref name = "SMHInvestigation"/><ref name="AFR2018">{{cite news |last1=Bolton |first1=Robert |title=Ghost schools and no teachers, the vocational education and training rort |url=https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/ghost-schools-and-no-teachers-the-vocational-education-and-training-rort-20181019-h16u7a |work=Australian Financial Review |date=21 October 2018}}</ref> and government inquiries<ref name="NixonReview">{{cite web |last1=Nixon |first1=Christine |title=Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia’s Visa System |url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/nixon-review/nixon-review-exploitation-australia-visa-system.pdf |date=31 March 2023|access-date=20 December 2024|publisher = Australian Government}}</ref><ref name = "ParlInquiry">{{cite web |author=Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade|title=Inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/RB000037/toc_pdf/InquiryintoAustralia%E2%80%99stourismandinternationaleducationsectors.pdf |publisher=Parliament of Australia|date=October 2023|access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="BraithwaiteReview" /> have alleged that these providers offer little genuine instruction or assessment and operate largely as “visa factories” to facilitate ]. Unlike a ], students at ghost colleges are often primarily motivated by their desire for a student visa, and may have little interest in or use for their intended ].<ref name="BraithwaiteReview" /><ref name="NixonReview" /> | |||
| In August 2024, the ] announced that it would be cracking down on ghost colleges, shutting down 150 dormant providers and issuing warning notices to another 140.<ref name="GovMediaRelease">{{cite web |last1=Giles |first1=Andrew |title=Over 150 ghost colleges axed |url=https://ministers.dewr.gov.au/giles/over-150-ghost-colleges-axed |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref> This was part of a broader suite of migration reforms enacted by the ], primarily targeted at reducing ] and cracking down on abuse of the migration system.<ref name = "SBSHundreds">{{cite news |title=Australia's 'ghost college' crackdown: Hundreds of providers shuttered or warned |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australias-ghost-college-crackdown-hundreds-of-providers-shuttered-or-warned/isw9n9joj |work=SBS News |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=20 August 2024}}</ref> As a result of these reforms, student visa refusal rates have significantly increased, particularly for vocational study by students from 'high-risk' countries.<ref name = "MajorChanges"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Angus |title=Indian students rejected as Australia cracks down on 'ghost colleges' |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/indian-students-rejected-as-australia-cracks-down-on-ghost-colleges-20231107-p5ei3r.html |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=The Age |date=27 December 2023}}</ref> | |||
| == History == | |||
| The term "ghost colleges" was first used in the context of Australian private vocational educational providers in around 2018.<ref name="AFR2018" /> In January of that year, the ''Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011'' (commonly known as the Braithwaite Review) found integrity issues across the vocational educational sector, finding that "seriously unscrupulous behaviour" was causing harm "not only to the sector’s reputation but the wellbeing – financial and emotional – of a significant cohort of students".<ref name = "BraithwaiteReview">{{cite web |last1=Braithwaite |first1=Valerie |title=All eyes on quality: Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 report |url=https://www.dewr.gov.au/download/7169/all-eyes-quality-review-national-vocational-education-and-training-regulator-act-2011-report/11232/all-eyes-quality-review-national-vocational-education-and-training-regulator-act-2011-report/pdf |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=20 December 2024 |date=January 2018}}</ref> This followed a steep rise in institutions applying for Vocational Education and Training (VET) and ] (CRICOS) registration, which would allow them to offer courses to student visa holders. In response to this steep increase in applications and the concerns about quality and integrity raised in the Braithwaite Review, from 1 July 2018 the ] (ASQA) began applying greater scrutiny to new applications and imposing a two year initial registration period. This led to a decrease in new VET and CRICOS registrations.<ref name="ParlInquiry" /> | |||
| In 2015, Baljit "Bobby" Singh was charged with numerous fraud offences over the running of the St Stephen Institute of Technology following an ASQA audit. Singh was found to have used fraudulent enrolments and plagiarised assignments to defraud the government of $2 million.<ref name = "Singh" /> Singh was ultimately sentenced to 6 years in prison in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arora |first1=Avneet |last2=Singh |first2=MP |title='Private ghost colleges in Australia are targeting students from India' |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/punjabi/en/podcast-episode/private-ghost-colleges-in-australia-are-targeting-students-from-india/yaijh599b |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=SBS News |date=22 November 2019}}</ref> | |||
| A major investigation into ghost colleges was published by ] and ] in August 2023. The reporters visited many private colleges in ] and found that, despite enrolling tens of thousands of students on paper, almost no students were in attendance at many of these colleges over a period of several months. The investigation highlighted an explosion in international student numbers and in the number of vocational colleges, and quoted many insiders as saying that most enrolees at some private vocational colleges were in Australia to work rather than to study. The owner of a vocational college described in the investigation as reputable was quoted as saying that "If you put pressure on students to attend, they switch to a college where there won’t be pressure and they can work".<ref name="SMHInvestigation" /> Following this reporting, the Australian government signalled that it would be taking steps to crack down on fraudulent practices in the sector.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Visentin |first1=Lisa |title=Further crackdown coming for VET sector to target ‘ghost colleges’ |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/further-crackdown-coming-for-vet-sector-to-target-ghost-colleges-20230824-p5dz8q.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 August 2023}}</ref> | |||
| A 2022 leaked government memo reported by The Age revealed that many students were exploiting a loophole that allowed for "concurrent study". Students would obtain a visa by enrolling in a ], and once they arrived in Australia they would enrol in a cheaper vocational course while discontinuing their original university course. This allowed them to more easily access a student visa from offshore through their enrolment at a more reputable institution, and then once they had transferred to a ghost college, they would be able to more easily work in Australia without the study commitments of a university degree.<ref name = "LeakedMemos">{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Clay |title=Leaked memos reveal international students rorting dual-study loophole |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/leaked-memos-reveal-international-students-rorting-dual-study-loophole-20230602-p5ddfr.html |work=The Age |date=5 June 2023}}</ref> | |||
| The 2023 ''Inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors'' by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade highlighted "predatory practices" by education agents who "poach" students from other institutions in order to take advantage of this loophole, and recommended that the government "take firm action to address persistent and deep-seated integrity issues in the private Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector". The inquiry noted that many providers had lax monitoring of attendance and that some agents and providers were facilitating ].<ref name="ParlInquiry" /> ] 2023 ''Rapid Review into the exploitation of Australia's visa system'' (the Nixon Review) also found significant exploitation of the student visa system and recommended greater enforcement and monitoring of migration agents, particularly in the vocational education sector.<ref name="NixonReview" /> Both inquiries also noted reports of student visas being used to facilitate criminal activity, including ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bachelard |first1=Michael |last2=McKenzie |first2=Nick |title=‘Grotesque abuses’: Secret review of migration system scathing of failures |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/grotesque-abuses-secret-review-of-migration-system-scathing-of-failures-20230419-p5d1ms.html |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=The Age |date=14 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bachelard |first1=Michael |last2=McKenzie |first2=Nick |last3=Ballinger |first3=Amelia |title=Brought to Australia as a ‘student’, Henry was made into a slave |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/brought-to-australia-as-a-student-henry-was-made-into-a-slave-20230718-p5dp4v.html?collection=p5dr4q&gb=1 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=The Age |date=23 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bali |first1=Meghna |last2=Patidar |first2=Som |last3=Sadler |first3=Rahni |title=Scams shattering Indian students' dreams of studying in Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-17/indian-students-duped-by-australian-visa-fraud/104309404 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=17 September 2024}}</ref> | |||
| The number of international student enrolments in vocational education programs rose from 157,119 in 2015 to 351,704 in 2024.<ref name="GovStats">{{cite web |title=International student monthly summary and data tables |url=https://www.education.gov.au/international-education-data-and-research/international-student-monthly-summary-and-data-tables |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref> By 2024, there were a total of 1,018,799 international student enrolments in Australia.<ref name = "GovStats"/> The number of international students from India and Nepal had risen particularly dramatically, from 32,000 in 2013 to 143,000 in 2023.<ref name="SMHInvestigation" /> | |||
| == Reforms == | |||
| Policy changes to address these problems were first announced in October 2023. Under these measures, colleges were banned from paying commissions to education agents to poach students from other institutions. College owners would also have to pass a "fit and proper person test", and providers would be made to monitor student attendance.<ref name = "MajorChanges">{{cite news |last1=McHugh |first1=Finn |title=It's been a week of major migration changes. Here are the key takeaways |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/its-been-a-week-of-major-migration-changes-here-are-the-key-takeaways/tb1v7tlfh |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=SBS News |date=4 October 2023}}</ref> A 2007 rule change had previously meant that providers did not have to report attendance.<ref name="AFR2018" /> | |||
| This crackdown on ghost colleges was part of a wider suite of policies announced in 2023 and 2024 to reform the international educational sector and reduce migration. These policies included a proposed cap on international student enrolments,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Norton |first1=Andrew |title=The government will cap new international students at 270,000 in 2025. But this number may not be reached |url=https://theconversation.com/the-government-will-cap-new-international-students-at-270-000-in-2025-but-this-number-may-not-be-reached-237558 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=The Conversation |date=28 August 2024}}</ref> a substantial increase in student visa application fees,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoang |first1=Sam |last2=Hurley |first2=Peter |title=As student visa fees jump to $1,600, Australia is refusing more applications than ever |url=https://theconversation.com/as-student-visa-fees-jump-to-1-600-australia-is-refusing-more-applications-than-ever-233667 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=The Conversation |date=1 July 2024}}</ref> and the issuance of Ministerial Direction 107, which required immigration officials to deprioritise ‘high-risk’ student visa applications<ref>{{cite news |last1=Truu |first1=Maani |title=University sector expects Ministerial Direction 107 to be replaced with 'fairer' approach to student visas |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-17/ministerial-direction-107-expected-to-be-replaced/104729330 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=17 December 2024}}</ref>. As a result of these policy changes, the rejection rate for student visas rose from 5% in January 2023 to over 30% in September 2023.<ref name = "MajorChanges"/> | |||
| Under these changes, students were no longer allowed to transfer from a university to a vocational course in the first six months of their study.<ref name = "LoopholeClosed">{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Clay |last2=Groch |first2=Sherryn |title=‘Ghost colleges’ loophole closed in student work crackdown |url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/ghost-colleges-loophole-closed-in-student-work-crackdown-20230825-p5dzim.html |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=26 August 2023}}</ref> This had been identified as a common loophole used by non-genuine students intending to work rather than study in Australia. Students intending to exploit this loophole would enrol at a reputable university or other higher education institution in order to attain a student visa, and would then quickly transfer to a ghost college, allowing them to work in Australia with few, if any, study commitments. Student visa holders in Australia are only allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week, but this requirement had proven difficult to enforce, with many purported students working multiple jobs or engaging in ] or ].<ref name = "LoopholeClosed"/><ref name = "LeakedMemos"/> | |||
| In August 2024 Minister for Skills and Training ] issued a media release titled "Over 150 ghost colleges axed" in which he announced that the government would be shutting down 150 dormant providers and issuing warning notices to another 140.<ref name="GovMediaRelease" /> This announcement received criticism for being misleading, with the federal opposition pointing out that at least some of these 150 providers were not “ghost colleges”, and were in fact reputable providers who had simply ceased providing vocational courses.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ley |first1=Sussan |last2=Henderson |first2=Sarah |title=Labor must answer questions about student cap process and ghost college lie |url=https://sarahhenderson.com.au/labor-must-answer-questions-about-student-cap-process-and-ghost-college-lie/ |access-date=20 December 2024 |date=16 September 2024}}</ref> | |||
| == Debate == | |||
| The degree to which any particular institution fits the definition of a “ghost college” is often disputed and is challenging for observers and regulators to ascertain, making it difficult to assess the prevalence of ghost colleges in Australia.<ref name = "SBSHundreds"/><ref name="SMHInvestigation" /> Some colleges have falsified enrolment and attendance figures, making it difficult to determine the extent to which an institution is providing legitimate educational offerings.<ref name = "Singh">{{cite news |last1=Farrell |first1=Paul |title=How police busted a multi-million-dollar 'ghost college' scam |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-06/private-college-reaped-$2m-from-students-but-never-taught-class/11662164 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=6 November 2019}}</ref> Government enquiries have found that there is a wide spectrum of compliance across the vocational education sector, from institutions that are almost entirely fraudulent, to those that offer some degree of training but with little actual student attendance, to those that are fully compliant with ASQA guidelines.<ref name="ParlInquiry" /> It is therefore unknown how many of the 3,800 ] (RTOs) in Australia<ref name = "SBSHundreds"/><ref name="SMHInvestigation" /> might plausibly be characterised as ghost colleges. | |||
| There has also been debate over the role of the students enrolled at ghost colleges. Some observers, such as ] Professor ], have characterised ghost college enrolees as victims of unscrupulous providers.<ref name="SMHInvestigation" /> Some students of ghost colleges and other fraudulent providers have claimed that they were misled about the education they would receive and that they were taken advantage of by their institutions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Daniella |title=Colleges shut, thousands of students lose qualifications in fake diploma crackdown |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/colleges-shut-thousands-of-students-lose-qualifications-in-fake-diploma-crackdown-20241127-p5ktx4.html |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="FakeStudents">{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Frank |title=Fake students complain to Indian newspaper after Australian ‘ghost college’ crackdown |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/fake-students-complain-to-indian-newspaper-after-australian-ghost-college-crackdown/news-story/c3fa1380e67d18794b2bc7998a2160d8 |access-date=20 December 2024 |issue=News.com.au |date=26 November 2024}}</ref> But others have argued that many students of ghost colleges willingly seek student visas with no intention of legitimate study and even that they should be deported for exploiting the visa system.<ref>{{cite news |last1=van Onselen |first1=Leith |title=Will Australia deport the student visa rorters? |url=https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/08/will-australia-deport-the-student-visa-rorters/ |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=MacroBusiness |date=26 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="CallstoDeport">{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Frank |title=Calls to deport visa rorters after ‘ghost college’ crackdown |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/calls-to-deport-visa-rorters-after-ghost-college-crackdown/news-story/39ad3419c013eebc94305bba1a3bd91f |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=News.com.au |date=30 August 2024}}</ref> The international student reforms passed in 2023 and 2024 have been linked to a rise in onshore ] visa applications, with some former student visa holders seeking to remain in Australia as refugees after the removal of their student visas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hare |first1=Julie |title=Crackdown on overseas students triggers rise in refugee applications |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/crackdown-on-overseas-students-triggers-rise-in-refugee-applications-20240811-p5k1il |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=11 August 2024}}</ref><ref name = "CallstoDeport"/> | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
Revision as of 06:35, 28 December 2024
SKIBIDI TOILET YA (Shouldn't of reverted my prestonlodge)