Indian student numbers fall at University of Ballarat

INDIAN student enrolments at the University of Ballarat have fallen by almost 25 per cent this year, in the wake of negative publicity and safety concerns about Australia.In first semester last year, 97 students from India accepted a place at the university. This year the figure has dropped to 73 students. However, enrolments are still being accepted and the final figure will not be confirmed until March. University of Ballarat vice-chancellor Professor David Battersby said two staff members had recently travelled to India for discussions with government officials."There certainly has been an impact on how the general community and media are perceiving the Australian situation," he said. But Prof Battersby said overall there had been an increase in the number of international students at the university. "While we have had a decline in the number of students from India, we have had an increase in the number of students from China."Prof Battersby said the university worked closely with the City of Ballarat to welcome international students from 32 different nations. International student Sarvjeet Kaur recently graduated from nursing at the University of Ballarat.She returned home to India for a visit in January and said she was constantly being asked about the security situation in Australia. "People are really scared," she said."They are just thinking it's racist because they say it's not happening with other countries, Africans and Chinese..."Ms Kaur has always felt safe in Ballarat, but said when she moved to Springvale in Melbourne her house was broken into and her laptop stolen. Three of her relatives were going to come to Australia to study, but have since cancelled their plans.But Ms Kaur said her brother was still keen to study in Melbourne. Second year IT student Gautam Pingali also said he had not had any problems living and studying in Ballarat although his parents in India were worried. "When they were concerned I tried to make them stay calm by not going out that much, that kind of thing," he said. "I told them, it's happening with other people here also, and that over there the fact that it is happening to Indians is more publicised."Mr Pingali said he had made friends in Ballarat and felt welcome here.