CorporateAttacks on Indians: Enquiries for study in Australia decline
Gulshan Kumar Pathania, president, Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI), has revealed that the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia has resulted in new enquiries coming down by 60-70%. “The impact of attacks on Indian students has been severe as the number of enquiries made by Indian students regarding studies in Australia has dipped significantly,” Gulshan added. Gulshan was here to discuss the role being played by Association of Australian Education Representatives (AAERI) to safeguard the interests of Indian students opting for studies in Australia.
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AAERI is a self regulatory body of education agents formed in 1996 with around 160 agents in India associated with it. He added that although the number of queries had gone down still they were expecting 20% growth in number of Indian students going to Australia this year since no drop out in actual number had been registered. Although the data of students who went to study in Australia from India in the year 2009-10 is still not compiled, Gulshan added that they had not observed any significant decline in number of students actually going to Australia.
Giving details about the 8-point action plan prepared by AAREI, Gulshan added that they were working closely with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australian Education International and Australian High Commissioner on modules that would serve as guiding principles for Indian students planning to study in Australia. Also AAERI is working closely with the Indian community in Australia to understand the on ground situations and concerns.