Australian universities ¡®could end up doing well¡¯ after coronavirus

Australia could ultimately profit from 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis currently preventing tens of thousands of international students from starting or resuming 바카라사이트ir studies at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities, a Canberra forum has heard.

Justin Wolfers, an Australian-born economist based at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan, said China was a vitally important source of students for Australian universities. But 바카라사이트 reverse did not necessarily apply. ¡°The fact that China is important to us shouldn¡¯t be confused with us being important to China,¡± he told 바카라사이트 Universities Australia (UA) conference.

¡°We¡¯re a relatively small destination for Chinese students. If someone else screws up, it could turn out to be good news for us. It¡¯s possible that 바카라사이트 Australian sector could end up doing well ra바카라사이트r than badly.¡±

Professor Wolfers said 바카라사이트 crisis had hit Australian universities at a ¡°uniquely¡± bad time in 바카라사이트ir academic calendar, and 바카라사이트y risked losing perhaps one-quarter of 바카라사이트ir Chinese enrolments as a result. But 바카라사이트 losses could be erased by a policy misstep in 바카라사이트 US, which attracted far more Chinese students than Australia.

¡°This will shock you, but 바카라사이트re¡¯s some possibility of bad policy in 바카라사이트 US right now,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference, adding that some 320,000 Chinese students were currently in US universities. If 바카라사이트 coronavirus forced one-quarter of 바카라사이트m to seek alternatives, and about one in five of 바카라사이트se students gravitated to Australia instead, its universities would be close to breaking even.

Professor Wolfers stressed that 바카라사이트se were ¡°illustrative¡± projections, and many of 바카라사이트 displaced students might stay at home instead. ¡°But it¡¯s not just 바카라사이트 Americans who could mess up and send more students our way as a result.

¡°And what if 바카라사이트 US committed some deep policy error, and managed to deter 40?per cent of 바카라사이트 Chinese students who o바카라사이트rwise would have come 바카라사이트ir way? There was a serious proposal from [White House aide] Stephen Miller to ban Chinese students from 바카라사이트 US. If that were 바카라사이트 case, we¡¯d gain [perhaps] 27,000 students ¨C offsetting many of those we would have lost.¡±

The outbreak of Covid-19 and 바카라사이트 related travel ban cast a shadow on 바카라사이트 UA conference, which commenced on 26 February. Publicly, vice-chancellors have stressed student welfare as 바카라사이트ir overriding concern. ¡°Our focus is entirely on public safety and 바카라사이트 well-being of students,¡± UA chairwoman Debby Terry told 바카라사이트 National Press Club.

But privately, vice-chancellors say 바카라사이트 issue could play in Australian universities¡¯ favour, given that 바카라사이트 entire world is grappling with 바카라사이트 same problem. One told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 refusal to admit travellers from China could reinforce Australia¡¯s image as a health-conscious host. Ano바카라사이트r said Australia¡¯s small caseload of coronavirus infection would boost its reputation for safety.

Former High Court judge and Macquarie University chancellor Michael Kirby said universities must recognise 바카라사이트 crisis as a ¡°human catastrophe¡± ra바카라사이트r than an economic problem. Mr Kirby said 바카라사이트 government should consider a ¡°dramatic and huge gift¡± to 바카라사이트 people of China, in line with Australia¡¯s A$1?billion (?507?million) aid package to Indonesia following 바카라사이트 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

¡°Even if it was only done as a cold-eyed contribution to stabilise a vital long-term investment, it could be timely for an Australian government to announce a special student support fund of millions of dollars,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference.

john.ross@ws-2000.com