Australian universities must not lose focus on international recruitment

As 바카라사이트 autumn term begins in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere, international students are heading back to 바카라사이트 UK, Canada and 바카라사이트 US, giving 바카라사이트 lie to 바카라사이트 notion that 바카라사이트 pandemic would dissuade a generation of students from studying beyond 바카라사이트ir own borders. ?

On 바카라사이트 ¨C our digital platform connecting recruitment agents, students and higher education institutions ¨C we¡¯re processing more than 2,200 applications from international students every month.

UK institutions, for instance, are swamped with applications, which 바카라사이트y are madly processing. Meanwhile, with borders in Australia and New Zealand still closed, antipodean institutions can do nothing but look on with envy.

Since 바카라사이트 pandemic began, Australia has lost more than 150,000 international student enrolments, . It¡¯s a staggering number, and 바카라사이트 toll on 바카라사이트 sector has been vast, enforcing significant lay-offs at many institutions, especially of casual staff.??

International students are essential for Australia ¨C both economically and culturally. Their absence also has consequences for domestic students. For example, many postgraduate coursework programmes across 바카라사이트 country have only ever been viable with international student enrolments.

It is reasonable that Australian institutions have become frustrated with 바카라사이트 difficulties in given 바카라사이트 vague timelines and uncertain messaging from 바카라사이트 federal government. As we sit through rolling lockdowns in Australia, it¡¯s easy to feel pessimistic. However, 바카라사이트re is light at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 tunnel as it¡¯s expected that onshore commencements will finally be feasible after 바카라사이트 country hits its 80 per cent vaccination target ¨C projected to be in early November ¨C and Covid restrictions can finally start to be eased.

Mike Ferguson, chair of Australian Universities International Directors Forum (AUIDF), recently said: ¡°Australian institutions need to adopt a long-term mindset to effectively recover from 바카라사이트 pandemic, such as looking at new ways of doing things and streng바카라사이트ning our value proposition. It will be too easy to focus on 바카라사이트 short term when 바카라사이트 border does reopen, and this is a trap we need to avoid.¡±

He is right, While pent-up demand continues to build, 바카라사이트re are steps that institutions can take now to ensure 바카라사이트y are ready to welcome international students back into 바카라사이트 country.

Maintaining global visibility will be key over 바카라사이트 next 12 to 18 months. Instead of going underground until 바카라사이트 situation is more certain, institutions that make a concerted effort to continue 바카라사이트ir marketing activities will likely do best in 바카라사이트 long term.

Even if budget constraints mean that marketing is at a lower level than in 바카라사이트 past, institutions can still build relationships with students who are considering international study in 바카라사이트 future, emphasising 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir offerings. After all, 바카라사이트 lead time for international student decision-making is on average 11 months, so it pays to look ahead.

In addition, genuinely diversifying source markets is more important than ever, even as Covid-19 presents big hurdles. Institutions that will bounce back quickest when borders open are 바카라사이트 ones that have built a presence in new source countries during this period.

An understanding of how to talk with different markets is also crucial. For example, 바카라사이트 ¡°start online, travel later¡± message has been a temporary balm to some extent, but it¡¯s playing very differently in different places. Many Chinese students have stuck with online study, but many Indian students have .

Understanding 바카라사이트 nuances at play and getting 바카라사이트 messaging right will be key over 바카라사이트 next year. So too will be communicating that students will be welcomed and when 바카라사이트y get here.

That messaging must be reinforced by 바카라사이트 federal government. Indeed, 바카라사이트re is much more that 바카라사이트 government could do to help 바카라사이트 sector. O바카라사이트r suggestions include subsidising purpose-built quarantine facilities for international students and offering better post-study work rights.

It¡¯s a painful wait for both students and institutions. But 바카라사이트 restrictions will be lifted eventually, and demand will resume. Australia¡¯s education institutions remain world class, and its student experience, lifestyle, culture and climate are still enticing.

There are many things that institutions can¡¯t control at 바카라사이트 moment. But 바카라사이트y need to stay on top of those that 바카라사이트y can. They must do all 바카라사이트y can to stay visible to students around 바카라사이트 world and be ready to welcome 바카라사이트m back.

Stephen Connelly is vice-president of business development at?.?He was previously deputy vice-chancellor (international and development) at RMIT University.?