The Australian government believes in a free and safe society and is not targeting Indian Muslims or any other particular community, he added.
Talking to media persons on Monday, he said the Indian students and their parents’ stress on quality education and lack of seats in professional courses in India, has led to an increase in the number of Indian students studying abroad, every year. Australia has the largest number of Indian students, 42,000, after the USA that has 76,000, Mr Ledlie quoted a report in India Today Aspire. Around 1,200 students from Bangalore City have already registered with IDP for admissions in Australian Universities with the start of this year’s educational fair on Monday, Mr Ledlie said.
The number of Indian students in Australia increases by 46 to 50 per cent every year, Mr Ledlie said. The main reasons for this increase is a combination of innovative education, affordable fees and freedom that Australia provides, he added. Indians are the third largest migrant community in Australia and at least two years of education in Australia gives additional points for migration. According to a new rule with effect from September 1 this year, a student will be given 18 months’ visa to stay in Australia and look for a new avenue after the completion of course, Mr Ledlie informed.
Aviation, Information Technology, Sciences, Engineering, Biotechnology, hospitality and hospital industries are the favourite fields of Indians going for studies in Australia. Around 60 per cent of the total students go for PG courses, Mr Ledlie added.
International Development Programme (IDP) is jointly owned by 39 out of the total 41 Universities in Australia and an Australian online job portal seek.com.
IDP provides free services, including IELTS examination at 22 centres across India, to the students and receives commission from the varsities on getting students. They started their operations in India in 1995 and have 13 offices across India.