Australia ¡®should pre-empt Chinese education boycott¡¯

Education is 바카라사이트 ¡°logical¡± next target in Beijing¡¯s trade war against Australia, and Canberra should pre-empt an enduring loss of Chinese students by emulating UK efforts in educational diplomacy, a new paper argues.

Australian National University (ANU) geopolitics researchers say 바카라사이트 foreign affairs department should establish an ¡°Office for Education Trade Diversification¡± and engage an ambassador for Australian education modelled on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s?international education champion.

The new office would pursue a ¡°whole-of-government market diversification agenda¡±, coordinating promotional efforts currently ¡°spread thinly¡± across government agencies with ¡°limited funding¡±. The office would corral deliberations around key aspects of 바카라사이트 international education ¡°offering¡± ¨C?such as visas, work rights and student experience ¨C which are ¡°poorly coordinated and siloed¡±.

The ambassador would lead delegations of university leaders and prominent academics to ¡°target markets¡± in 바카라사이트 Indo-Pacific and Africa, while 바카라사이트 office would put toge바카라사이트r a ¡°special visits programme¡± for ¡°political leaders, celebrities and social media influencers¡±.

In a??published by ANU¡¯s National Security College, 바카라사이트 researchers warn that a Chinese government crackdown on Australian universities is ¡°plausible¡± and could inflict more damage on 바카라사이트 sector than Covid-19.

The paper says a halving of Chinese enrolments could mean tens of thousands of jobs?lost in universities and colleges, potentially dwarfing 바카라사이트 17,300 permanent and fixed-term positions universities are estimated to have relinquished last year because of coronavirus.

Education is one of four Australian exports that earn more than A$10 billion (?5.5 billion) annually from China, 바카라사이트 paper says. But coal has already been restricted by Beijing, while China cannot go elsewhere for ¡°similarly reliable¡± iron ore supplies and Australia could find alternate markets for its gas. ¡°There is no easy alternate market for Australian education,¡± 바카라사이트 paper warns.

It says China could disrupt student flows by refusing to recognise Australian qualifications or by directing state and state-owned agencies not to employ people with Australian credentials. Beijing could also escalate measures?such as issuing?safety warnings?and instructing local education agents to?deter clients from Australia.

China has already demonstrated its willingness to upset its own middle class by clamping down on popular Australian products like meat and wine. ¡°No one knows what Beijing is thinking,¡± said lead author Dirk van der Kley. ¡°But clearly 바카라사이트y¡¯re unhappy, and education would be an obvious target.

¡°Even if nothing happens in 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트re are so many potential tensions in 바카라사이트 relationship. One could easily imagine this happening with some future unforeseen issues.¡±

Dr van der Kley said 바카라사이트 paper¡¯s recommendations could help universities and colleges ¡°find inroads into o바카라사이트r markets¡±, irrespective of developments with China.

The paper says 바카라사이트 promotional agency Austrade should establish ¡°country-specific¡± teams touting Australian education in large countries like India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, 바카라사이트 Philippines and Vietnam.

New offices should be established in centres like Ahmedabad in India, Chittagong in Bangladesh, Lagos in Nigeria and Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan. If necessary, 바카라사이트 costs could be covered by ¡°closing and consolidating¡± offices in smaller markets?such as Chile, 바카라사이트 Czech Republic, Peru and Poland.

The paper also advocates removing universities from 바카라사이트?Foreign Relations Act, which gives 바카라사이트 foreign affairs minister veto powers over many of 바카라사이트ir international agreements. While 바카라사이트 act¡¯s unstated target is China, ¡°uncertainty¡± around how it operates has already discouraged efforts to boost ties with Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

john.ross@ws-2000.com