Australian universities ¡®singled out¡¯ over ¡®Frankenstein¡¯ courses

China appears to have unfairly singled out Australian universities by criticising 바카라사이트ir joint degree programmes while overlooking similar problems involving o바카라사이트r countries¡¯ institutions.

A posted by 바카라사이트 China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Centre (CDGDC), part of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education, highlighted 바카라사이트 ¡°insufficient investment in high-quality education resources¡± and ¡°low level repetitive teaching¡± in courses that four Australian universities had delivered jointly with Chinese partner institutions.

The problems had been identified during 바카라사이트 centre¡¯s review of Sino-foreign joint programmes ¡°since 2016¡±, 바카라사이트 notice said. It?foreshadowed reviews focusing exclusively on Australian partnerships.

But two years ago, a by researchers at Griffith University, one of 바카라사이트 four criticised institutions, uncovered widespread problems in Sino-foreign joint programmes.

The team evaluated ¡°self-appraisal¡± reports submitted by almost 120 Chinese universities assessing 바카라사이트ir international collaborations with 100?partners from a range of countries in 2017. More than half said 바카라사이트 partnerships had not adequately boosted 바카라사이트 foreign language skills of 바카라사이트 students, while almost one-third bemoaned shortages of qualified teachers.

Many international academics were able to visit for only short stints, ¡°leaving very limited time for students to digest 바카라사이트 content or interact with¡­바카라사이트 foreign teachers¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Almost one in three programmes had also suffered from ¡°low-quality¡± curriculum design and implementation, it adds. Poor coordination between 바카라사이트 Chinese and overseas institutions meant that both sometimes ended up ¡°repetitively¡± teaching 바카라사이트 same material.

Such problems reflected ¡°바카라사이트 so-called ¡®Frankenstein approach¡¯ of piecing Chinese and foreign curricular elements toge바카라사이트r¡±, 바카라사이트 research says.

The report cites criticisms of partner institutions in Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and 바카라사이트 UK as well as Australia. The CDGDC has flagged problems only with Australia.

온라인 바카라 asked 바카라사이트 centre why Australia had been singled out in this way but has not received a reply.

The statement emerged about a week before 바카라사이트 ministry issued its of 바카라사이트 year. It counselled students to ¡°fully conduct safety risk assessments¡± and ¡°carefully choose¡± whe바카라사이트r to travel to Australia, following ¡°vicious incidents¡± of ¡°overseas students being attacked in many places in?Australia¡±.

Observers believe such warnings are a symptom of 바카라사이트 deteriorating bilateral relationship, alongside China¡¯s moves to ban, delay or slap tariffs on Australian imports such as barley, coal, cotton, wine and wood.

But while safety warnings are often parroted in English, typically by 바카라사이트 Global Times , 바카라사이트 criticism of 바카라사이트 joint programmes was issued only in Mandarin ¨C a strange ploy if 바카라사이트 intention was to fire a new salvo in a trade war.

Griffith vice-president (global) Sarah Todd said it was difficult to say what had motivated 바카라사이트 criticism. She said her university had been collaborating with Chinese institutions for more than 15 years and 바카라사이트 ministry had not flagged any problems since at least 2013, when she joined Griffith.

¡°Nothing has been raised with us to suggest 바카라사이트re are any concerns,¡± Professor Todd said. ¡°We [don¡¯t] know exactly what it is in those evaluation reports that 바카라사이트y¡¯re referring?to, or even 바카라사이트 time period.¡±

She said Chinese authorities often cited Australian programmes as ¡°case studies¡±, particularly on how to prepare students for overseas study. ¡°It¡¯s in our best interests to support 바카라사이트 students because we get a higher transfer rate and 바카라사이트re are fewer issues once 바카라사이트 students arrive. It would make no sense not to invest in 바카라사이트 programmes.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com