Domino effect warning as estimated 100,000 students to miss out on study abroad

It’s possible 100,000 Australian students will be unable to travel overseas to study due to travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021. That’s the estimate consultancy firm Studymove put forward on the back of its survey of university students, commissioned by the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA). The survey sought to understand how the virus may or may not have altered Australian students’ plans to study overseas, and canvassed opinions on the importance of having that opportunity as part of the university experience and future employability goals. In 2018, more than 52,000 Australians travelled overseas to study but the firm said with COVID-19 putting the number of students in learning abroad programs close to zero, universities may see 100,000 students unable to participate through to 2021. Studymove warned that this may have a “domino effect” for students beyond a missed travel experience. The group said it will have a lasting impact on career outcomes and overall employability goals. Women will be disproportionately affected as they experience greater participation in such programs. “Social and workplace barriers often mean women are overlooked for international assignments,” the survey report read. “Experience living abroad as a student can demonstrate motivation and commitment to future employers at critical times in their careers.” Only 9 per cent of students surveyed felt that international study experience was either not important or only slightly important to building their employability skills, while 55 per cent deemed it fairly or very important. While 22 per cent of students said they no longer planned to study overseas, the majority (56 per cent) indicated that they would still like to do so and a similar number said they would consider study experiences in a country with low levels of COVID-19. “Based on these results, it will be important to effectively consider and manage travel bubbles which enable students to undertake and international experience in a safe environment,” the report’s authors wrote. Speaking to The Australian, IEAA chief executive Phil Honeywood echoed the call for attention to be paid to travel bubbles “so we can hit the ground running and identify which markets we can get Australians into quickly”.