A little more reflection, a little less action
Sometimes space and time is needed to understand policy changes and react accordingly. By Marnie Watson, VP Global, Griffith University
Beyond regulatory challenges, I'm keeping watch on the rapid growth in intra-Asian mobility.
My hope for 2026 is less action, not more!
As 2026 began, the Australian international education community was holding its breath. After years of lurching from one policy crisis to the next, there was new year optimism that the regulatory environment might have finally settled. But, as is the way in our sector, the next round of strategic adjustments, government revenue generating ideas and expectations on international education providers were just waiting for us to return from the end of year break.
On January 8, 2026, the Australian government made an abrupt change to its student visa processing for India and South Asia requiring stricter financial and academic documentation due to "emerging integrity risks". This response to genuine risk means slower visa processing and more scrutiny for applicants from these countries just weeks before Australia’s main intake of the academic year.
Meanwhile the introduction of a substantial application fee for Australian transnational education providers reveals a troubling disconnect between Australia's offshore ambitions and regulatory practice. The charge of nearly $37,000 per application effectively funds regulatory operations while simultaneously discouraging the international expansion it should facilitate.
After several years of policy turbulence, we know our sector is not fragile. It’s operationally resilient, globally connected and economically significant. It is, however, fatigued.
Australia's experience is instructive for our peers around the globe. We've spent the recent years demonstrating how much disruption a sector can absorb before it begins to buckle. The answer is quite a lot. Adaptability however isn't the same as sustainability. We can sprint when needed, but we can't run a marathon when someone keeps moving the finish line.
Beyond regulatory challenges, I'm keeping watch on the rapid growth in intra-Asian mobility. While not a new shift, it’s one which is gaining serious momentum. The predictable flow of Asian students to Western universities has been thoroughly disrupted. Economic realities, travel preferences influenced by our COVID experience, expanded regional options, and cultural pull (yes, K-Pop!) mean students increasingly choose to stay closer to home. South Korea and Japan are now genuine competitors for Vietnamese, Malaysian, Indonesian and Indian students.
Asian universities are climbing rankings, building global brands, and attracting students both domestically and internationally. China has multiple institutions in the top global rankings. Singapore pulls talent from everywhere. Malaysia has quietly dominated regional recruitment for years, drawing students from across Asia and Africa. India is experiencing a TNE boom and Japan is emerging as a serious player for regional students (as evidenced by the thirty Indian Vice Chancellors traveling to Japan en masse to explore opportunities just this month).
Back in Australia, the sector had a modest win with the government's decision to lift new overseas student commencements, rising to 295,000 for 2026 (25,000 more than last year). The real benefit here isn't the numbers, but the breathing room. Long-term planning is easier when you're not constantly operating at maximum capacity with one hand tied behind your back.
My hope for 2026 is less action, not more!
The sector doesn't need more consultations, another reform package, or additional ministerial directions. We need policy settings that are allowed to settle long enough to evaluate. We need regulatory frameworks that provide predictability while maintaining quality and integrity. We need more political leaders who recognise that international education is a strategic asset, not a short-term policy instrument. In a sector where decisions are made by young adults and their families, policy volatility travels faster than any marketing campaign. Every announcement, every adjustment, every "recalibration" sends ripples through agent networks, social media groups, and family dinner tables across the world. Consistency matters as much as competitiveness.
We need to stop treating international education as a short-term problem to be managed and start recognising it as an industry which needs to be nurtured. International education is transformative for students and for societies. So many of us have seen firsthand how students who study abroad return with broader perspectives, deeper cultural understanding, and connections that last lifetimes. These aren't just nice outcomes - they're fundamental to building the kind of world we need. When students live, study, and build friendships across borders, they develop an empathy and understanding that transcends politics.
So, after all that, what am I keeping my eye on? I am watching whether governments can exercise restraint. The international education community has absorbed enough change. What we need is the radical, almost revolutionary, act of being left alone long enough to catch our breath.
That might sound unimaginative, but right now it would be a welcome change.
Marnie is Vice President Global at Griffith University, overseeing international partnerships, global mobility and student recruitment. Her 30-year career spans international education leadership across Southeast Asia and Australia. She currently serves on the International Education Association of Australia board and previously on AusCham Vietnam and ANZA Singapore boards.