Australian international education: Untangling the threads
Professor Shelley Kinash, Chief Academic Officer, Universal Higher Education
#InternationalStudents is one of the hottest topics in higher education. A common theme is that international students are not a commodity which can (or should) be manipulated at will by the higher education sector. Providing education to overseas students is a social responsibility; a reciprocal engagement with bilateral benefits.
What's good about having international students in Australia?
Financial
International education was Australia's third-highest export industry. Keeping this sector strong is positive for Australia's overall economy.
Global Relations and Human Capital Contributions
Education changes lives, cultures and societies, and promotes peace. Enabling access to education for overseas students makes our world a better place, even more so if international education policy embraced a tangible student equity dimension.
Knowledge and Technical Expertise
In effective education, the teachers are not the only educators. International students often bring knowledge, technical expertise and perspectives to the Australian classroom and economy that Australia does not have.
Career Networks
Most jobs are obtained through connections. The presence of international students can enhance the formation of key graduate professional networks, enabling lifelong global connections for Australian domestic students.
Building (Multi)Culture
Diverse people makes Australia multicultural. The intermingling and intersections of cultures builds intercultural capability, helps students better understand commonalities and differences and fosters appreciation of the role that cultural mediation plays in learning to live together.
Equity and Diversity
Life is more interesting and societies more equitable and cohesive when empathetic respect for diversity is developed and the fallacy of stereotypes and prejudices exposed through inclusive cultural exchange and collaboration.
International Student Fees
Most Australian domestic students pay only a portion of the cost of degrees because of the co-contribution covered by Commonwealth supported places. International students usually pay the full cost of the degree. For better or for worse, universities now rely heavily on this funding from a financial business perspective.
Sharpening Student Support and Overall Teaching and Learning Enhancement
There are many instances where high-support models developed to ensure international student success (e.g. intervention plans) have been applied to, and are highly effective in supporting, domestic students.
Frontline Labour
International students tend to work part-time while studying. They tend to work in frontline service roles, and thus fill vacancies and allow businesses to function.
Consumers
International students not only pay fees, but they and often their families, purchase flights, clothes, meals and participate in entertainment. This all contributes to Australia's economy.
Skill-Based Occupations
The courses which tend to attract international students are those with clearly linked graduate occupations, such as engineers, IT professionals, nurses and teachers. Training people to take-on these vital roles can contribute to meeting Australian skill shortages.
Flatmates
International students tend to rent rooms in houses and apartments where they share the washrooms and kitchens with other students (sharing economy model). International students are therefore not usually competing for the same rental accommodation as domestic Australians.
Why should we rehearse the many benefits?
But why is it important to list these benefits? Aren’t they obvious? Is there any risk of Australia compromising the national commitment to international education? The answer is YES to each of these questions. As the Universities Accord Panel’s Final Report found (p 184)
International education is well-recognised as a crucial export industry, but less so as an important element of Australia’s soft diplomacy, reputation and ability to generate relationships across the world. International alumni can be strong champions for institutions, regions and the nation and their potential needs to be harnessed. Maintaining the quality and integrity of the international education system is essential to continuing to deliver this value.
Political stance on international students
International students have become a political issue:
A key component of the Australian Government’s migration strategy is to reduce the number of international students in Australia. The number of granted international student visas is now down 35% on the previous year. New legislation has been introduced to cap international student enrolments.
Under the heading of “housing”, the Leader of the Opposition’s Budget Address in Reply reads, “We will reduce excessive numbers of foreign students studying at metropolitan universities to relieve stress on rental markets in our major cities. We will work with universities to set a cap on foreign students.”
And now – the Australian Government’s Draft Strategic Framework
In May 2024, the Australian Government released Australia’s International Education and Skills Strategic Framework as a draft for consultation. The document introduces five proposed changes to the status quo.
Country of Origin of International Students
Currently, the top two countries from the perspective of both the number of visa applications lodged and their approval rate are:China at 66,300 applications and 97.2% approval rate; and
India at 47,456 applications and 68.5% approval rate.
The draft Framework proposes reducing visas to both countries.
Destination of International Students
The draft Framework states that the top three destinations are the state capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and the stated strategy is to divert international students to the regions.Disciplines / Industries
The Framework also states that the top study disciplines are Business and Management, but the stated strategy is to accept more visa applications for health care (nursing) and education (teaching) to resolve Australian skills-based occupation shortages.Domestic and International Blend
A feature of the proposed strategy is to not approve any new provider applications among those who only educate international students.Purpose-Built Accommodation
Providers may be required to provide (on-campus) accommodation for students because politicians are linking international students to Australia’s housing crisis.
The primary question is whether these strategic plans have been consulted and tested. Have future students and their families been consulted? What about leaders of other nations to see if the Australian education strategy aligns with theirs? Have employers and other industry delegates, such as accreditation bodies, been consulted? In summary of this point, we need to know - if we build it, will they come? The current brand of Australian higher education has been reasonably strong (with the current features and characteristics) as compared to other nations. What will the future hold?