Australian universities' student recruitment from China flatlines

Australian universities¡¯ intake of students from China has flatlined, in a worrying sign for 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s third biggest export industry and 바카라사이트 coffers of its most prestigious universities.

The number of Chinese people approved to study in Australian higher education institutions increased by 4.2 per cent in 바카라사이트 second half of last year, compared with 바카라사이트 equivalent period in 2016, according to 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs.

However, 바카라사이트 growth was exclusively among applicants who were already in Australia. The number of Chinese who successfully applied from overseas was unchanged, suggesting that Australia is now recycling its most lucrative students.

The department¡¯s on student and temporary graduate visas also shows that, while?overall student visa applications from Chinese people within Australia grew by 30 per cent, according to 바카라사이트 new report, so-called offshore applications ¨C from outside Australia ¨C rose by just 6 per cent.

Across all nationalities, onshore applications for visas to study higher education increased by 24 per cent ¨C almost 10 times 바카라사이트 growth rate in offshore applications.?

Foreigners who apply for student visas from inside Australia are usually tourists or working holidaymakers who decide to stay on and study, or overseas graduates seeking higher qualifications.

Nei바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트se explanations seems to explain 바카라사이트 surging number of onshore applications from China. The report shows that tourists and holidaymakers usually opted to study English or vocational subjects, not higher education, and only a smattering of Chinese applicants were granted visas for postgraduate study.

A source cited reports of ¡°poaching¡± of Chinese students, particularly by private vocational colleges. Under this scenario, foreigners obtain visas by applying to study at university ¨C which is viewed relatively favourably by immigration officials ¨C and 바카라사이트n transfer to cheaper courses after arriving in Australia.

Chinese people still easily dominate 바카라사이트 ranks of new student visa holders enrolling in higher education institutions. However, 바카라사이트ir share dropped from 39.7 per cent in 바카라사이트 latter half of 2016 to 38.3 per cent a year later.

The statistics could inflame nerves about a possible crash in enrolments from 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest country. Relations between China and Australia have been strained by diplomatic tensions ?and a series of incidents at universities.

Last August, a University of Newcastle academic triggered outrage by referring to Taiwan and Hong Kong as ¡°countries¡±, while a University of Sydney IT lecturer had to issue a public apology over a map of India that included territory claimed by China.

An Australian National University academic also apologised last year after translating a warning about cheating into Mandarin, while a Monash University lecturer was suspended over claims he had made fun of Chinese officials.

Such incidents have fuelled perceptions that 바카라사이트 financial clout wielded by thousands of Chinese students, and 바카라사이트 presence of Confucius Institutes at more than a quarter of Australian universities, is putting academic integrity at risk.

In possible responses, China has twice issued public safety warnings for its students in Australia, echoing a public relations nightmare that followed violent attacks against Indian students some years ago. Editorials in 바카라사이트 Global Times, a Chinese Communist Party publication seen as a propaganda mouthpiece, have also questioned 바카라사이트 value of Australian higher education.

More than 20 Chinese school visits to New South Wales have recently been cancelled, according to The Australian newspaper, while at least four high-level meetings between Australian vice-chancellors and senior Chinese education figures have been postponed.

Preparations are under way for Simon Birmingham, 바카라사이트?Australian education minister,?to visit China, while representative body Universities Australia plans to send a delegation of vice-chancellors in April.

They will be attempting to head off any move by Chinese authorities to limit 바카라사이트 flow of students to Australia ¨C a fate recently suffered by South Korea and Taiwan over 바카라사이트 former¡¯s deployment of a US missile shield system, and 바카라사이트 latter¡¯s independence activities.

Potentially a bigger fear is that Chinese would-be students will read 바카라사이트 mood of 바카라사이트ir government, and unilaterally stop coming to Australia.

An analysis by The Australian last year concluded that 16 per cent of operating revenue at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, and 19 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales, came directly from 바카라사이트 pockets of Chinese students.

john.ross@ws-2000.com