The Australian Governments Australian Universities Accord Interim Report was released a short time ago. It has 179 references to “international” in it.
The Koala has put together extracts from the interim report to highlight major international references and strongly encourages readers to view the report.
The headline quote
Pg 2
“The Review sees international education less as an industry and more as a crucial element of Australia’s soft diplomacy, regional prosperity and development. This makes the quality of the education we provide even more important.”
The vision of International Education in Australia (2035)
Page 19.
Our long-term success in joint research with neighbouring countries and international research collaborations has become even stronger, and many firms from around Asia are commissioning research from Australian universities. Australia’s international education sector has helped Australia pursue its global priorities, including through soft diplomacy. Our deep connections and partnerships with a range of countries have grown investment, trade, and knowledge exchange, and reinforced our strong reputation as a global leader in international education.
Education of international students is highly valued as a core component of the mission of the sector and continues to be a significant source of revenue for Australian universities. There is increased diversity of source markets and delivery methods. Educational enrolment and pathways are aligned with the migration settings and visa system to ensure that international students can contribute to Australia’s skills needs and participate successfully in a growing international community. Australian tertiary education providers have also extended their success in providing transnational education services and partnerships, especially across the Indo-Pacific region.
Research Funding over-reliant on Internationals
Pg 2
“University research, which accounts for 36% of Australia’s overall research and development (R&D) output, has become too reliant on uncertain international student funding and needs to be put on a sounder and more predictable footing.”
Reliance on International Students more over
(Pg25)
Infrastructure, workforce development, and research in our universities are not sustainably funded in their own terms. The ability of Australian universities to be sustainable is dependent on their ability to generate income above and beyond government funding.
Some universities are consequently over-reliant on international students and their revenue, with the benefits and risks of educating international students uneven across the sector. International students enrich our culture, bolster our skills supply and increase our influence in the global community, but the volatility of these enrolments and income streams threatens to undermine the stability of some institutions, and their ability to maintain research capability and quality.14 The growth of international student revenue has become so important to the sector that its volatile nature is now a risk to our national research effort. Relying on funding core research capability and functions from volatile revenue sources has inherent risks and variability.
Funding ain’t going be public
(Pg 26)
University research activity is currently underwritten by international student revenue and other cross-subsidies, and this creates unacceptable risk to the future. Yet the success of Australian higher education as an international industry has led to a situation where the funding it provides is so great it cannot realistically be replaced by public sources.
Post Study Work Rights are a good thing
Pg 56
Skilled migrants play an important role in addressing Australia’s skills needs and will continue to do so in the future.
The extension of post-study work rights (PSWR) for international graduates with degrees corresponding to areas of skills shortage was announced at the Jobs and Skills Summit and will be implemented by the Department of Home Affairs from 1 July 2023. This will contribute to addressing Australia’s critical skills shortage, and also contribute to the broader network of Australia’s international connections.
“[Overseas] students offer a significant source of talent to address the social needs of Australia particularly in terms of skills shortages and the development of new knowledge” – International Education Association of Australia
The Government’s Migration Review outline sets out policy directions regarding international students such as providing faster pathways to permanent residence for the skilled migrants and graduates Australia needs and increasing integrity in the visa system.70 Ongoing investment in and support for educational pipelines that support key sectors and priorities for the government will ensure the ongoing safety and security of the workforce.
Industry attitudes toward international students needs attention
Pg. 57
Industry attitudes towards hiring international students and graduates requires significant attention. Universities play a pivotal role in connecting industry with international students, including communicating the benefits of employing international students and addressing misinformation regarding international visa limitations. They also play a role in supporting international students who may not always be aware of what employment opportunities exist for them both during and post-study. Ensuring international students, particularly those studying in areas of Australia’s skills needs, are connected to industry throughout their education will facilitate better pathways into employment and therefore help meet workforce shortages.
A levy on International Students
Pg 16 and 139
- examining a funding mechanism such as a levy on international student fee income. Such a mechanism could provide insurance against future economic, policy or other shocks, or fund national and sector priorities such as infrastructure and research.
International Alumni are important.
Pg 90
As discussed in Section 2.5, international students spend some of their most formative years in Australian universities and can be powerful champions for Australia across the world. And close connection to a cohort can be a positive part of student life for both international and domestic students. Cohorts often help each other to succeed in their studies
New National Regional University
Pg 107
The NRU would provide substantial and lasting support for underrepresented cohorts and deliver for skills needs in the regions. In addition, an NRU may also represent an opportunity to find academic synergies and operational efficiencies across existing institutions and to better attract international students, combining education and research excellence associated with Australian higher education with a uniquely Australian regional experience.
The concept and design of a new national university would need to be worked through in close consultation with the Commonwealth, states and territories, regional universities, local communities and many other stakeholders. International models for such a system exist. One is the University of California system which operates as a state-wide institution with central governance accountable to the state government, but includes ten campuses each with their own local identity and leadership with a degree of autonomy (e.g., UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, UC Davis).
International Student Experience
Pg 119
International students can face a range of significant pressures as they adjust to living and studying in Australia. This can include social isolation and financial hardship, noting international students incur additional costs compared to domestic students, and are more vulnerable to workplace exploitation by unscrupulous employers. The Review is examining the role of universities in providing information to international students, so they are informed of their rights and protections under Australian law, and whether this requires significant enhancement. For example, the Assurance Protocol is an agreement between the Department of Home Affairs and the FWO which provides support to student visa holders who approach the FWO for help. This provides a safety mechanism for students or employees to raise issues of workplace exploitation without the risk of it leading to their visa being cancelled, even if the issues have caused a breach of their visa conditions.
Section 2.5 is of most interest. “Fostering international engagement” being it’s title.
The Koala highly recommends this section is read in full. Its summary is as follows:
The Review is considering how best to create a sustainable and globally connected international education sector that is central to the mission of institutions, that benefits Australia and its regions, that builds country to country connections through teaching and research, and that remains internationally competitive for decades to come.
The Review sees international education less as an industry and more as a crucial element of Australia’s soft diplomacy, regional prosperity and development.
This makes the quality of the education we provide even more important.
For these reasons, the Review is giving further consideration to the following policy areas:
- ensuring that international education supports broader Australian foreign policy objectives, for example, strengthening relationships with India and the Pacific
- making international education more embedded within the mission of the Australian tertiary education system and to the mission and purpose of individual institutions
- ensuring the integrity and accessibility of visa pathways for international students
- promoting flexibility and innovation in international education, including digital and offshore delivery options
- providing a high-quality university experience for international students
- improving overseas skills and qualification recognition and expanding international professional qualification accords
- promoting international commercial use of Australian research capability
- building closer connections between institutions and their international alumni
The final report may include
Pg84
Potential proposals the Review may also consider for the Final Report, and that reflect the broad themes outlined above, include:
- new opportunities to increase the scope and mobility of Australian scholarships and programs
- city- and state-based partnerships, and greater recognition of Australian qualifications through regional cooperation agreements.
Encouraging international use of Australian research capability could involve a greater role for Austrade in promoting Australian university research capability to international business and public sector partners.
Fostering closer connections could include explicitly recognising the global engagement role of Australian higher education providers (through education and research) and building and maintaining international alumni networks through their individual mission statements.
The interim report can be downloaded here.
