NEW Agreement - AMI Education/University of Ballarat (Melbourne)

        HELLO AUSSIE STUDENT SERVICES is proud to announce a new agreement with one of the best English, Vocational and Higher Education providers in Australia - AMI Education who delivers courses on behalf of University of Ballarat, right in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

      The University of Ballarat has excelled in the 2010 edition of The Good Universities Guide. In a stunning result, UB recorded a maximum of five-star 5 STARS ***** rating for teaching quality - the only Victorian University to do so. The University also recorded four stars 4 STARS **** for getting a full-time job, generic skills, graduate satisfaction and cultural diversity. At AMI Education in Melbourne CBD, University of Ballarat offers degree programs in Business, Commerce & Management (AUD$14 600/year), Master programs in Business, Commerce & Management (AUD$15 600/year), Diploma of Management: 18 weeks (AUD$5 800), Advanced Diploma of Management 24 weeks (AUD$5 800).

       Higher Education at AMI Education has 3 intakes per year: March, July and November. International students can fast-track their studies by studying 3 semesters a year, which means you can complete your Bachelor degree in 2 years or your MBA in 1 year (Major in Health Services Management and Human Resource Management or Marketing).

       AMI Education also offers scholarships for its Higher Education programs through the Eagle Award Scholarship program. You can receive up to AUD$1 000 scholarship every year for AMI Education's top scholars.

       From the special promotions going on at AMI Education we would like to emphasize the FREE 10.1" Laptop offer: STUDY MINIMUM OF 15 WEEKS ENGLISH AT AMI EDUCATION AND RECEIVE A FREE 10.1" LAPTOP.

       For more information about AMI Education feel free to go on our website www.hello-aussie.com.au, contact us or Click HERE.

$1 billion international student sector at risk

According to the vice-chancellors of UniSA, Flinders University and the University of Adelaide, hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in new infrastructure are also at risk. They are putting pressure on the Federal Government saying that the Government has only 12 months to make changes to the student visa program otherwise, South Australia's second largest export industry risks loosing up to 30% of it's international students - or up to 10 000 by 2014.

Professor James McWha, the vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide said while current international enrolments remain steady or slightly up, if changes were not made, South Australia faced a significant downturn, according to a PIER Online article.

"We aren't talking about one, two are three per cent in falling numbers; we are talking a 10, 20, 30 per cent drop" he said.

The Federal Government announced in December 2010, a review of the student visa program, under the former politician, Michael Knight.

Denise von Wald, Education Adelaide chief  executive said Australia is being "handicapped" by its own visa system. She said the US and Britain were processing visas within tow to 10 days, compared to four to 12 weeks in Australia. The cost to apply for a student visa for Australia is $550 while the cost of a student visa application for study in the US is four times less ($140).

Flinders University vice-chancellor said if Australia "didn't get its act together", we would lose strong links with Asian countries like China, Australia's largest education export market, to competitors overseas.

"We have an opportunity to reposition the Australian brand, in particular (in) major markets like China; but if we fail to do it in the next six months, we are looking at a very significant and long-term downturn", he said.

UniSA vice-chancellor said the universities were major employers in the city, with an expected combined revenue this year of at least $1.7 billion.

He said if that revenue were to drop, it would have "ripple effects" throughout the state's economy.

Source: PIER Online, AdelaideNow