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Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Reassures Students After College Closure

By Dharam Loonaa

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced that the Global Campus Management Group, a provider of international education in the secondary school, English language and vocational education and training sector, has entered voluntary administration.

Included in the Global Campus Management Group are the GCM Fashion Institute, The Meridian International School, Meridian International Hotel School, International Design School, and Meridian College.

Ms. Gillard said that the first concern is for the students, particularly those currently undergoing their HSC or VCE examinations, and that the State Governments have already put in place arrangements to ensure those students will be catered for with the minimum of disruption.

International students studying at the colleges are covered by a comprehensive safety net, with the first preference being a place in another similar course at a different institution if possible.

Where a place cannot be found, the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act guarantees the students will receive a refund of their outstanding fees.

No student will be left without either a place at a different college, or a refund.

Meetings have been arranged to brief students affected by the closure. Meetings will be held in Melbourne on Monday 9 November and Sydney later in the week. For further details on these meetings students can check the website www.aei.gov.au/ESOS or call the ESOS Helpline on 1300 363 079.

The Government is taking strong steps to ensure we remain a world leader in providing international education services.

These steps include the recent passage through the House of Representatives of amendments to the ESOS Act that will require re-registration of all providers of international education in Australia.

In addition, a full review of the Act is currently underway under the direction of Bruce Baird. The Baird Review will look at all aspects of the legislation and will provide an interim report to the Government towards the end of 2009.