Two more Australian institutions - Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales have decided to prohibit the recruitment of students from certain Indian states amid the rise in the number of fraudulent visa applications. As per Australian media reports, the institutions have sent instructions to education agents not to recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs," the Federation University’s letter to agents said. We hoped this would prove to be a short-term issue (but) it is now clear there is a trend emerging," the letter, published in the Australian media suggests.
Last month, several Australian universities, such as Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, Torrens University, and Southern Cross University, reportedly implemented measures to address an apparent rise in fraudulent applications from certain Indian states.
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“A large number of Indian students who commenced study in 2022 intakes have not remained enrolled, resulting in a significantly high attrition rate," the Western Sydney University told agents in a message sent on May 8.The university designated Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana as the locations with the highest risk of attrition...Due to the urgency of this matter, the university has decided to pause recruitment from these regions in India, effective immediately," the university message said, adding that recruitment from all other regions in India will continue as usual.
Ironically, Australian and Indian Prime Ministers have agreed to increase student mobility and collaboration. They signed a migration and mobility agreement to promote exchanges in education, research, and business. This move will strengthen ties between the two nations and encourage cultural and knowledge sharing. However, Australian Universities' steps to ban Indian students from certain states tell a totally contrasting story.