澳大利亚官方回应GEOS教育集团倒闭事件

澳大利亚官方在Australian Education International （澳大利亚教育就业与劳动关系部国际教育司，简称AEI）的网站上公布了GEOS教育集团关闭的消息，并对如何安置GEOS教育集团下学校就读的国际学生进行了说明。以下是官方发布消息的原文：

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS OF GEOS COLLEGES ON STUDENT VISAS

•The GEOS English Colleges and St Marks International Colleges have closed and will no longer be teaching overseas students.

•The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is arranging meetings for students on a student visa as soon as possible to advise you of what steps are being taken to help you continue your studies as quickly as possible. Please note that this is different from the meetings organised by the administrators of the GEOS College Group, Ernst and Young.

•You will be advised of the details of your meeting by SMS and/or email. Please ensure that you check your messages regularly and pass on all information to your friends and classmates.

•Details of meetings arranged are attached to this notice and will be added to as arrangements are finalised.

•Please note the important information below and check the ESOS Website at http://www.aei.gov.au/ESOS regularly for further information.

•Australian law (the ESOS Act) outlines arrangements to ensure that students who have come to Australia to study on a student visa are protected. DEEWR oversees the three levels of consumer protection.

The first level of protection is that the provider should pay each student a refund of course fees. Ernst and Young, the administrators of the GEOS Colleges, have told DEEWR that the Colleges will not be able to pay refunds to students.

The second level of protection is the tuition assurance scheme. Your colleges are members of tuition assurance schemes, which are now required to offer you a suitable alternative course. At your new college, you will not be required to pay extra money if you have already paid money in advance to your college.

If your tuition assurance scheme is unable to place you in a suitable alternative course then the third level of consumer protection may assist you. The ESOS Assurance Fund may offer you a place in a suitable alternative course. If the Assurance Fund is unable to place you in a suitable alternative course you may be eligible for a refund.

•You do not need to enrol yourself in another course at this time. If you choose to enrol yourself in another course, please be aware this may affect your right to assistance from the tuition assurance schemes or the ESOS Assurance Fund. Arrangements are being made to place you in another course as soon as possible.

•You should keep all records concerning your enrolment at your college including receipts and academic records.

澳大利亚GEOS教育集团旗下的英语学校和St Marks国际学院现已关闭，他们不能再招收国际学生。

澳大利亚教育、就业和劳动关系部现正尽快为持学生签证在GEOS 教育集团旗下学校就读的国际学生安排专门的学生安置会，向国际学生介绍他们下一步该采取的行动，帮助他们尽快继续学业。

国际学生将通过短信和/或电子邮件收到学生安置会的具体安排。请国际学生及时查看/查收短信和/或电子邮件。

请国际学生留意以下重要信息并随时登陆www.aei.gov.au/ESOS网站了解最新情况。

澳大利亚《海外学生教育服务法案》（ESOS）确保持学生签证赴澳留学的国际学生的权益受到澳大利亚法律的保护，为此ESOS 还制定了具体的措施。澳大利亚教育、就业和劳动关系部监察三个层面消费权益保护措施的执行情况：

第一层面的保护措施就是要求GEOS 教育集团旗下的学校返还国际学生所支付的学费。来自安永会计师事务所的审核人员告知澳大利亚教育、就业和劳动关系部，该日资背景的GEOS 教育集团旗下的学校现已无法返还国际学生所支付的学费。

第二层面的保护措施就是学籍保障计划（TAS）。GEOS 教育集团旗下的学校都是学籍保障计划的会员院校，根据学籍保障计划，学校将为学生安排合适的替代课程。如果学生已向原学校缴纳学费，则无须向新学校支付额外学费。

如果无法在学籍保障计划下为国际学生安排合适的替代课程，那么第三层面的保护措施将为国际学生提供协助。在此情况下，将通过《海外学生教育服务法案》保障基金来为学生安排合适的替代课程。如果《海外学生教育服务法案》保障基金无法为国际学生安排合适的替代课程，那么国际学生有权要求退还学费。

现阶段，国际学生无需自行联系新学校。如果学生自行联系转读其他学校，请注意这可能会影响到学生主张根据学籍保障计划或通过《海外学生教育服务法案》保障基金安排转学安置的权力。

国际学生需妥善保留在原学校与入学有关的材料和文件包括成绩记录和缴费收据等，以便日后据此维护权益。

来源：凤凰网教育频道