The move comes in response to the surge in rejection rates for Indian applicants and the need for stricter oversight of education agents involved in the visa application process.
Federation University and Western Sydney University have taken measures to combat visa fraud concerns by instructing education agents to stop recruiting students from certain Indian states. The ban includes Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the reports by The Week, the move comes as rejection rates for Indian applicants in Australian universities reach a 10-year high, with approximately 25% of applications classified as fraudulent or non-genuine. Federation University has witnessed a significant increase in rejected visa applications and has sent a letter to agents outlining the ban. Similarly, Western Sydney University has restricted recruitment from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat due to high attrition rates.
The ban will be effective immediately for at least two months, and stricter admissions conditions and changes to application screening will be implemented.
This decision reflects concerns within the Australian education sector, as other universities have previously paused recruitment from specific Indian states. The surge in applications and visa fraud concerns have prompted the federal Department of Education to acknowledge misconduct in the international education sector.
The Department is particularly concerned about inducements offered to students to switch from universities to more affordable vocational education providers. The rejection rate for applications from India stands at 24.3%, prompting calls for better regulation of education agents. Efforts are underway to improve the immigration system and prevent misuse.