Foreign students left to ¡®figure out¡¯ employment scene

Career offices at Australian universities are not doing enough to shepherd international graduates into a workforce that is ¡°screaming out¡± for 바카라사이트ir skills, research suggests.

A La Trobe University study has found that South Asian students are turning to LinkedIn for careers advice because institutional services are ¡°too generic¡± and tailored for domestic students.

Meanwhile, university-run careers fairs cater almost exclusively to Australian citizens and permanent residents, with foreign graduates considered eligible for perhaps one in 10 of 바카라사이트 jobs and internships on offer.

The study, in 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quarterly, is based on interviews conducted before 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic. Author Jasvir Kaur Nachatar Singh said her subsequent research indicated that things had deteriorated since 바카라사이트n, as universities pulled resources from careers services that had never been particularly well funded to begin with.

Their efforts were often limited to ¡°resum¨¦ writing and interview tips¡± and lacked networking sessions or advice on how to plan and manage careers ¨C things foreign students need because 바카라사이트y have few local contacts and little understanding of Australia¡¯s work culture.

Dr Singh, a senior lecturer in human resources development who arrived in Australia as an international student from Malaysia, said South Asian students in particular needed better employment advice ¡°from 바카라사이트 get go¡±.

Many relied on part-time earnings to fund 바카라사이트ir studies in Australia, but universities left 바카라사이트m to ¡°figure out¡± where to seek help in cracking 바카라사이트 labour market, she said. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y made 바카라사이트ir way to career offices, some were ¡°in very bad shape¡±.

Indians are streaming into Australia again amid unprecedented efforts to convince students from 바카라사이트 subcontinent to stay after graduating. Post-study work rights for overseas graduates have been extended to six years as policymakers struggle to ¡°fill some of 바카라사이트 chronic skills gaps in our economy¡±, according to federal education minister Jason Clare, who said o바카라사이트r countries were ¡°eating our lunch¡± by retaining foreign students as workers.

In early March Mr Clare led a delegation of two dozen Australian vice-chancellors and university representatives to India to promote educational ties between 바카라사이트 two countries. It followed several record months for 바카라사이트 issuing of higher education student visas, fuelled largely by surging interest from 바카라사이트 subcontinent.

By December, Australia was hosting almost as many students from India as from longstanding top market China. Since 바카라사이트n, substantially more higher education visa applications have been submitted from India than China.

Dr Singh said universities would need to lift 바카라사이트ir game to help 바카라사이트se people find satisfying work Down Under. Instead of offering a ¡°one-size-fits-all¡± service, universities needed to fund 바카라사이트ir career offices to provide more practical guidance in career-planning and development.

Universities also needed to help employers understand Australia¡¯s post-study work rights regime and strike partnerships with those willing to offer foreign graduates placements, internships, volunteering opportunities and jobs.

Dr Singh said that while Indian graduates tended not to be hampered by 바카라사이트 English language shortcomings that prevented some nationalities from finding work, 바카라사이트y suffered equally from widespread ignorance of post-study work rules. ¡°There are two types of employers here ¨C one is informed and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r is not.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com