China’s snap ban to cause mayhem

TENS of thousands of Chinese students enrolled at Australian universities are rushing to return to Australia after Beijing issued a snap ban on online learning at overseas universities.

The surprise move, announced by China’s Ministry of Education on Saturday, ended the special Covid rule that allowed Chinese international students to study online from home in China instead of taking face-to-face classes on campus.

“Diplomas and degree certificates awarded in the spring semester of 2023 (autumn semester in the southern hemisphere) and beyond using cross-border online learning … will not be accredited,” the message to students stated.

“Due to the outbreak of Covid-19,

(the ministry) insisted on putting the health and safety of overseas students in the first place (and) changed our rules for overseas students who had to take some or all of their courses online because of the pandemic.

“The major overseas study destinations have opened their borders, and overseas universities and institutes have fully resumed face-to-face teaching. The Chinese National Health Commission announced that from January 8, 2023, China’s epidemic prevention … entered a new stage.”

The decision could cause short-term logistic problems as some 40,000 Chinese students scramble to secure a visa and accommodation before the start of semester 1.

Education Minister Jason Clare said he would work with both the universities and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil to iron out any issues.

More than 3500 Chinese students have already returned to Australia ahead of the start of the university term.