Australian Minister for Tertiary and higher Education, Chris Evans, said the government plans to issue a new employment visa for international students after graduation. Accordingly, they can stay in Australia to work up to four years.
 
The proposal for the issuance of new visa has been made after Michael Knight - the former New South Wales Chair of the Board of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority   submitted a report to the government calling for a review of visa requirements for international students in March 2011.

According to Chris Evans, the new visa will Boost International Education Sector of universities and vocational training institutes as they think the visa system for international students makes Australia's education less competitive compared to other countries.

In addition, the Australian government will also cut down some requirements and procedures for visa approval to attract more international students wishing to attend tertiary and higher training programs at the kangaroo country.

According to Mr Paul Greenfield, who heads a group of eight oldest universities of Australia, the previous visa policy for international students was lack of flexibility in allowing students to work in Australia after graduation. So the change of visa laws has shown the reform efforts of the government.

However, private training institutions expressed their concern about the feasibility of the new policy because it does not apply to their students and that can cause difficulties for the operation of those institutions.

On the issue of easing student visa approval, Immigration counselor Jonathan Granger in Sydney said that for the students wishing to study undergraduate or master's degree in Australia, their families will do not need to prove the amount of $ 150,000 in their account within six months before applying for visa.

Adapted from Bayvut.com.au