Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Nov 7 (PTI) Four international colleges in Australia have suddenly wound up, putting in jeopardy the future of 2,700 shell-shocked students including those from India, some of whom were about to graduate in two weeks.

The students, who arrived at the college campuses yesterday, were shocked to hear that the institutions had been closed permanently.

Teachers at the colleges run by the Meridian Group, were, however, told on Thursday night itself that they were out of jobs, the media here reported without giving reasons for the collapse of the institutions.

The colleges, located at 13 campuses in Melbourne and Sydney, offered courses in hospitality, design, English language, fashion and secondary education.

"In just two weeks, we were going to get our degrees," one student said.

"They are not professional, they are the people who are dodgy here," another student said.