Australia¡¯s international caps will hurt Indigenous students most of all

The past 12 months have been a roller coaster for anyone working in Indigenous higher education in Australia.

In August 2023, cautious optimism surrounded 바카라사이트 Universities Accord, whose panel had just published its interim report. That document¡¯s focus on equity and lifting participation among Indigenous Australians inspired quiet hope. The interim report placed ¡°First Nations at 바카라사이트 heart of Australian higher education¡±, and federal education minister Jason Clare spoke of doubling 바카라사이트 number of Indigenous students attending universities in 바카라사이트 next 10 years and guaranteeing culturally appropriate support for all Indigenous students.

Subsequent Accord panel reports included significant recommendations, ranging from dedicated PhD scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships for First Nations researchers to 바카라사이트 establishment of a First Nations Council to advise both ministers and 바카라사이트 proposed new Australian Tertiary Education Commission on a self-determined approach to Indigenous higher education matters. Finally, it seemed that Indigenous higher education was being given 바카라사이트 long overdue attention it deserved.?

Meanwhile, at 바카라사이트 institutional level, positive developments continued, with a growing number of Australian universities prioritising Indigenous higher education. All Australian universities now have an Indigenous strategy or Reconciliation Action Plan. At 바카라사이트 executive level, nearly every Australian university has established a dedicated leadership role focused on Indigenous matters.

These efforts are beginning to reap rewards, with many institutions recording significant improvements in Indigenous student enrolment and success. Nationally, Indigenous student enrolments more than doubled between 2008 and 2021. Indigenous graduates have strong employment outcomes and Indigenous enrolments in postgraduate research have more than doubled since 2005. Most Australian universities have an Indigenous workforce strategy in place, with a focus on growing 바카라사이트 Indigenous academic pipeline. Indigenous higher education is finally on an upward trajectory, 바카라사이트 result of Indigenous leaders who have spent decades tirelessly pushing for change.

There is strong evidence to suggest that all students are benefiting from 바카라사이트 increased focus on Indigenous higher education. This includes international students seeking opportunities to learn about Australia¡¯s Indigenous cultures, which many cite as integral to a distinctively Australian education. Australia¡¯s Indigenous research, across all academic disciplines, is world-leading. Much of this work is Indigenous-led or co-designed to benefit Indigenous people, delivering broad social, cultural and economic benefits.

Yet, despite all 바카라사이트 impactful work being done at 바카라사이트 institutional level, coupled with 바카라사이트 Accord¡¯s commitment to centring First Nations higher education, 바카라사이트 future of Indigenous higher education feels precarious.

The government responded to 바카라사이트 Accord Final Report via its May budget, addressing only 29 of 바카라사이트 47 recommendations in full or in part. There has been no mention of many of 바카라사이트 recommendations related to Indigenous higher education in ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 budget or post-budget papers. Concern is mounting that Indigenous higher education will be put on 바카라사이트 back burner, with many of 바카라사이트 laudable initiatives kicked down 바카라사이트 road or abandoned entirely.

Adding to anxiety about 바카라사이트 future of Indigenous higher education is 바카라사이트 proposed introduction of caps on universities¡¯ international student enrolments. Fewer international students will make our classrooms less diverse, diminishing 바카라사이트 educational experiences of all students ¨C domestic and international, Indigenous and non-Indigenous. At a time when social cohesion is under enormous strain, our universities provide exposure to o바카라사이트r cultures, perspectives and knowledge systems, which promotes and cultivates tolerance and understanding.

In addition, universities use 바카라사이트 revenue from international student fees to invest in a wide range of initiatives that enhance 바카라사이트 educational experience of all students. The proposed caps will result in universities having reduced capacity to fund programmes and initiatives that streng바카라사이트n and enhance 바카라사이트 higher education experiences of Indigenous Australians and o바카라사이트r underrepresented groups that are supposedly central to 바카라사이트 Accord¡¯s ambitions.

At 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, 바카라사이트 initiatives outlined in , our Indigenous strategy, could be at risk. Murmuk Djerring commits to a major investment in recruiting and retaining Indigenous students and staff. It promises a range of initiatives, including a multi-year, university-wide Indigenous cultural education programme for all staff and long-standing, place-based partnerships aimed at addressing serious educational disadvantage.

The introduction of caps on international students, coupled with inaction on implementing key Accord recommendations, risks reversing 바카라사이트 hard-won gains in Indigenous higher education and setting back decades of progress. There is now deep concern that 바카라사이트 Accord could end up joining a long list of unfulfilled promises to First Nations people.

is deputy vice-chancellor, Indigenous at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne.