澳大利亚加强对于国际学生的保障

	新闻稿  澳大利亚大使馆
MR24/10	24 February  2010

澳大利亚联邦教育部长茱莉亚•吉拉德日前宣布政府将投入510万澳元（约折合人民币3040万元）用以进一步加强澳大利亚国际教育产业。

这笔基金可以在需要的情况下注入海外学生教育服务保障基金（ESOS保障基金）。

ESOS保障基金是澳大利亚国际学生权益保护框架的基石，对国际学生所支付的学费予以保障。该基金建立于2000年，由政府拨款100万澳元（约折合人民币600万元）作为启动基金。至2010年1月31日，ESOS保障基金拥有超过335万澳元（约折合人民币2000万元）的现金余额。

ESOS保障基金是澳大利亚政府已出台的一系列举措中的一项，以确保澳大利亚教育在国际上处于领先地位。这些举措包括：

• 《海外学生教育服务法案》修正案（教育机构的重新注册及其他措施）要求所有向国际学生提供教育和培训课程的院校必须在2010年底前完成重新注册。
• 由Bruce Baird教授领衔完成的《海外学生教育服务法案》复审工作报告将于近期完成，并递交澳大利亚政府。
• 澳大利亚政府理事会正在制定《澳大利亚国际学生战略》。
• 国际学生服务热线已于2009年中期开通。
• 成立高等教育质量和标准署（TEQSA）及建立职业教育和培训行业规范机制。

	MEDIA RELEASE           AUSTRALIAN Embassy Beijing
MR24/10	24 February  2010

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has announced funding of A$5.1 million (RMB 30.4 million) to further strengthen Australia’s international education industry.

The funding will be made available to top up the Education Services for Overseas Students Assurance Fund (ESOS Assurance Fund) if required.

The ESOS Assurance Fund is the cornerstone of Australia’s international student consumer protection framework which safeguards the course fees of international students. The fund was established in 2000 with a $1 million (RMB 6 million) start amount provided by the Government.As at 31 January 2010, the ESOS Assurance Fund had a positive cash balance in excess of A$3.35 million (RMB 20 million).

The funding is one of a number of measures the Australian Government has initiated to ensure it remains a world leader in providing international education services. These measures include:

• ESOS Amendment (Re-registration of Providers and Other Measures) Bill which will require all providers delivering education and training to international students to re register by 31 December 2010
• The review of the current  ESOS Act by the Hon Bruce Baird AM, which is due to report to the Australian Government shortly
• A National International Student Strategy currently being developed through the Council of Australian Governments
• The International Students Hotline set up in mid 2009
• The establishment of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and a national regulator for the Vocational Education and Training sector.

The Government’s decision will provide additional certainty for students and underscores the Australia’s determination to ensure that its international education sector remains both strong and vibrant into the future.