Immigration policy and international education policy in Australia: an analysis of boundary spanning

Immigration policy and international higher education policy were traditionally distinct domains in Australia, yet they have become intertwined over the last quarter century. Australia has expanded international student migration as both a key part of higher education and a funding source, while shifting from facilitating two-step pathways to skilled immigration to imposing strict barriers. Taking a medium-term analysis from 2001 to now, we assess these policy trends through boundary spanning theory, noting that once discernible policy areas have undergone periods of convergence. We outline the policy benefits and disadvantages of such trends, reflecting on the implications for other major Commonwealth Nations.