New South Wales (NSW) will begin welcoming back international students from the second half of the year under a pilot program to help revitalise the academic industry. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) approved the state’s plan to bring back international students with priority to be given to students who need to complete practical or on-site components to progress or graduate from their degree. “This interim authorisation will allow universities in NSW and the ACT [Australian Capital Territory] to start working together immediately to implement a fair and efficient system to get these international students back to Australia,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said. In the initial announcement on June 10, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the plan would benefit tens of thousands of local residents whose jobs rely on the industry that was worth $14.6 billion (US$11.1 billion) in 2019. “International education is our second most valuable export, and we …