China’s snap ban could cause logistic nightmare for tens of thousands of students
China’s snap ban on citizens studying online could be a logistic nightmare as tens of thousands of students race to return to Australia.
Tens of thousands of Chinese students enrolled at Australian universities are rushing to return to Australia after Beijing issued a snap ban on online learning at overseas universities.
The surprise move, announced by China’s Ministry of Education on Saturday, ended the special Covid rule that allowed Chinese international students to study online from home in China instead of taking face-to-face classes on campus.
“Diplomas and degree certificates awarded in the spring semester of 2023 (autumn semester in the southern hemisphere) and beyond using cross-border online learning … will not be accredited,” the message to students stated.
“Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, (the ministry) insisted on putting the health and safety of overseas students in the first place (and) changed our rules for overseas students who had to take some or all of their courses online because of the pandemic.
“The major overseas study destinations have opened their borders, and overseas universities and institutes have fully resumed face-to-face teaching. The Chinese National Health Commission announced that from January 8, 2023, China’s epidemic prevention … entered a new stage.”
The decision could cause short-term logistic problems as some 40,000 Chinese students scramble to secure a visa and accommodation before the start of semester 1.
Education Minister Jason Clare said he would be working with both the universities and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil to iron out any issues.
More than 3500 Chinese students have already returned to Australia ahead of the start of the university term.
Universities Australia, which represents 39 tertiary education providers, welcomed the decision.
“China’s decision will encourage students to return to Australia which is a good thing,” chief executive Catriona Jackson said.
“We will be working closely with government and industry to ensure universities can quickly respond to this influx and facilitate the safe return of students from China as well as students from other nations.”
The education sector took a financial hit during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic when border closures forced full fee-paying international students to return home.
Prior to the pandemic, the sector was Australia’s largest service export, bringing $40bn into the economy in 2019.
“Working back to this position of strength we held prior to the pandemic is in the interest of universities and our nation,” Ms Jackson added.
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