AUS-CLOSURE 2LST

The new immigration rules aimed to crackdown dodgy
education providers that were reportedly luring foreign
students with guaranteed permanent residency.
Private colleges that were charging students fees of
over USD 20,000 a year to do courses that cost Australian
students only hundreds of dollars, now fear a catastrophe.
The Edge Academy has been a registered training
organisation with NSW Vocational Education and Training
Accreditation Board (VETAB) since December 2004.
The organisation currently has 66 students studying
with 95 pending enrolments. VETAB spokesman said they were
told by owners of the academy that reasons for the closure
included the changes to Federal Government policy.
"Overseas students are entitled to a full refund of
their fees from the Education Services for Overseas Students
Assurance Fund," he said, adding "Domestic students can seek
restitution from the NSW Office of Fair Trading."
College principal and managing director Judy Gabbert,
was unavailable for comment. An India-based education agent
Ravi Lochan said, "Most of the closures were not due to any
rapid audit but as of voluntary administration who saw less
visas meaning less students and hence less profitability."
"The student visas for the diploma students was really
tightened in September and they refused to grant visas for
this without interviews. Possibly in response to what the
Indian Government wanted.
"The tightening of the visas also led to less students
at some colleges which led to closures (such as Meridian
college in Victoria) and not any action by the Victorian Govt
on them as many in India believe," he said. PTI