International student surge a test of the nation's best interestsThe Australian - Page 11 : 7 November 2023Original article by Judith SloanRoy Morgan SummarySome 665,000 temporary student visas were on issue in September, compared with a pre-Covid peak of 555,000 and just 340,000 a decade ago. The overall story is one of runaway and uncontrolled growth in international student numbers, pumping up population growth and putting pressures on the cities to which they flock. Many of these students intend to stay in Australia permanently or for at least a decade, and government reforms have made it easier for them to do so. Meanwhile, research shows that international graduates who stay in Australia often end up in semi-skilled jobs, rather than filling skill gaps. A rigorous assessment of the benefits and costs of international education is clearly needed.
