This is another initiative supported by the Australian government to enhance the experience of international students in Australia.

The website is designed to provide past, present and future Indian students in Australia with their own networking portal online.

CLick On Image For Site View

Features of the website include individual member pages, blogs, discussion forums and the capacity to share videos, photos, news and events.

Speaking at the launch of the website on February 17, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Peter Varghese, said, "A feature of modern education creates long-lasting networks between students. Those studying overseas should seize the opportunity to build a global network of friends and acquaintances."

"We want this website to assist students in getting the information they need to have a productive and happy time in Australia and to build a network of friends and colleagues that will stay with them throughout their professional lives."

He added, "I encourage all past and present Indian students in Australia to log onto www.MyOzNetwork.com to see how the website might be useful to them."

Speaking at the launch, Australian alumni said they had found studying in Australia a rewarding and enriching experience. They welcomed the establishment of MyOzNetwork.com to help them maintain their networks and build new ones.

The website was launched at a gala event at the Shangri La Hotel in New Delhi on February 17, 2010.

The UK today partially lifted a ban on accepting visa applications from students in north India for higher studies, a move that will benefit thousands of aspirants to study in that country.

The UK Border Agency had imposed the temporary suspension from February 1 in north India after it received unprecedented rise in the number of applications.

"The suspension was taken in response to a huge surge in applications over a very short period of time. I am delighted to be able to announce today that, from March 1, this suspension will be lifted for all students wanting to study higher education courses, whether foundation degrees, undergraduate or postgraduate," McFadden, who is visiting India, said here.

However, the temporary suspension remains in place for all those wanting to study at lower levels.

"But we will continue to keep this under review and will lift it as soon as we can, and once the new 'highly trusted sponsor' system for colleges and other educational establishments across the UK is in place," he said.

The Department of Employment and the OPB have signed a pact with the State Bank of India, State Bank of Patiala and Oriental Bank of Commerce to provide education to the students abroad, said an official spokesperson at "Education Fair and Seminar" here yesterday.

"Student interested in seeking education abroad may register themselves on www.haryanajobs.in or www.opbharyana.com.

Other information in this regard is also available on these websites," informed D Ranjan Sharma, authorised consultant of the bureau.

Representatives of different foreign educational institutes and universities participated in the fair, each informing about the commercial and academic courses run in their countries.

Source: The Tribune Govt Turns Facilitator For Oversees Studies

Australia Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the revision of the immigration rules would tilt the inflow of foreign migrants to invite more doctors, engineers and IT professionals to suit Australia's local demands.

He also announced scrapping the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) to limit the eligibility for independent skilled migration to "a more targeted set of occupations".

"It (MODL) encouraged overseas students to train in particular occupations to make it easier to acquire permanent residence, in the process skewing the skilled migration programme to a narrow set of occupations," he said.

Blaming the access of lower skilled immigrants, as against skilled professionals on the migration system hitherto in place, he said: "We were taking hairdressers from overseas in front of doctors and nurses, it didn't make any sense".

On the deficiencies in the existing system, Evans said: "A Rhodes Scholar would not pass the points test if he or she took a degree in chemistry or mathematics... (but) there are several occupations -- cooks and hairdressers -- where international students can study in Australia, acquire qualifications in 92 weeks and be on the road to permanent residence".

In a statement, Johnson said Britain will continue to welcome genuine foreign students, but will come down heavily on those who use student visas to come to Britain mainly to work and abuse the system. He said: "We remain open to those foreign students who want to come to the UK for legitimate study. But those who are not seriously interested in coming here to study but primarily to work -- they should be in no doubt that we will come down hard on them."

Under the new measures, successful applicants from India and other countries outside the European Union will have to meet a higher bar on English language requirement, and students taking courses below degree level will be allowed to work for 10 hours a week, instead of 20 as at present. Those in courses which last under six months will not be allowed to bring dependants into the country, while the dependants of students on courses below degree level will not be allowed to work.

It is worth mentioning that annually around 22,000 students from India apply for the Australian student visa. Out of the total, about 70 per cent are from Punjab and Gujarat.

The announcement states that from January 1, 2010, prospective overseas students will need to demonstrate that they have access to at least Aus $18,000 (approx Rs 746,000) a year to fund their living costs in Australia, instead of the current Aus $12,000 (approx. Rs 497,000). It is worth noting that living costs are one component of the financial requirements for a student visa. These policy changes are made with the view that the primary purpose of a student visa is to study.

Speaking to Business Standard, Oceanic Consultants Private Ltd CEO, Naresh Gulati said, " The government has increased the living cost amount by 50 per cent. On one hand the move is good, as only genuine candidates who want to pursue higher education will apply for student visa. As a result the quality of students will improve, and ultimately the rapport of the country, which has been tarnished by the fake visa applicants. But again there is no second thought that the norms will affect the visa seekers. Roughly I estimate that there would be 15-25 per cent drop in visa applications."

Source: Business-standardStudying in Australia to get tougher with new norm

IDP Education has also become one of the first organisations in the world to be certified by the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) . AIRC is a non-profit standards development organisation with the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission that consists of US institutions.

According to Harmeet Pental, regional director IDP for South Asia, "Over the coming year we expect the number of universities signed on to grow rapidly and will commence counseling services for the US across India."

IDP's first set of tie ups with US Universities are Ashland University, Bellarmine University, Chaminade University, Dean College, Fisher College, Keck Graduate Institute, Lewis University, Saint Francis University, St. Michael's College and University of Mississippi. IDP Education is jointly owned by 38 Australian universities and is the co-owner of IELTS.

"We believe good careers will be international and those with exposure to overseas studies would have better prospects in the global job market," he said.

Listing out other initiatives, he said, during the first year of stay, the visa is being considered as the residential permit for students. Students were also permitted to work part time while studying. After graduation students were given six-months time to find employment, he said.

Replying to a query on loss of jobs arising out of Indian IT company Wipro closing down one of its centres in France, he said company chairman Azim Premji has assured that the company was looking at a long term investment and creation of new jobs for local people.

"Indian IT companies investing in France is a new phenomenon and there are lessons to be learnt," he said

Under the new Immigration Bill, immigrants will either be granted permission or refused, making the rules easier for applicants and staff.

Those in the United Kingdom must gain permission or face removal for breaking the law.

These proposals are the next step in building on the rapid progress the government has made in tightening up Britain’s border controls.

Over the past three years, the UK has seen the introduction of e-Borders to check individuals in and out of the country and the implementation of the points-based system which ensures that only those who benefit the economy can come here to work.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday announced that doors will be shut to highly skilled non-EU doctors and engineers, and the government will consider denying visa to students seeking entry to short-term programmes.

In order to bring together the essential changes that have already taken place, the government is proposing a new bill to bring forward a new legal framework to simplify and consolidate 40 years of immigration laws.

“This government has implemented the biggest overhaul of the immigration system for a generation, and it is important that UK laws reflect these changes,” Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said. “I believe that Parliament should be in primary control of immigration — this bill will ensure that Parliament and not case law determines policy,” he added.

He said the draft immigration bill will enable the government to work more efficiently and is the next step in bringing together the strong measures put in place to control our borders and making them simple to use and enforce.

The agreement aims at boosting student and faculty exchange programmes between the two nations, more scholarships for Indian students vying to study in Scotland, more internships and a greater collaboration in the field of research and development.

Michael Russell, minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Scottish government, said: "The two bodies will encourage joint degree development and help identify opportunities for enhanced funding to support institutional initiatives."

"With a world-class educational system, Scotland is actively seeking to support India's goals of significantly growing its education sector, enhancing research and development capabilities and skilling its workforce to boost sustainable economic growth," he added.

A total of 14 Scottish universities and six special higher education institutions form the Universities of Scotland body, while 281 Indian universities form the AIU.

According to the Scottish officials, around 13 percent of Indian students who go to the UK for higher studies are enrolled in Scottish universities.

"Scotland has global strengths in key industries such as life sciences, energy, financial and business services, and information technology, which are also important to India's continued growth. Coupled with India's capabilities in these areas, this will be a mutually beneficial partnership," Russell said.