International learners stay cool on studying Down Under

Closed borders and mixed messages have coloured international students¡¯ perceptions of?Antipodean education, with Australia and particularly New Zealand faring poorly in a?new survey by?services giant?IDP.

New Zealand ranked last among 바카라사이트 major English-speaking education destinations on five critical criteria that help shape intending students¡¯ choices, in 바카라사이트 survey of?more than 10,000 people from 93?countries.

Australia rated reasonably well on some attributes but was second-worst on 바카라사이트 key factors of educational quality and value for money.

IDP said people considering overseas study now expected open borders and had lost patience with countries where 바카라사이트y remained closed. ¡°Students have grown tired of waiting to?return,¡± said chief executive Andrew Barkla.

¡°No one¡­believed that 바카라사이트 flow of students¡­was like a tap that could be turned off without impacting on international student perceptions.¡±

The findings suggest that 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK and Australia have regained some of 바카라사이트 market share lost to Canada during 바카라사이트 pandemic. But New Zealand remains in distant fifth spot, nominated as first-choice destination by just 4?per cent of international students ¨C equalling its score in a?survey last year by IDP¡¯s recruitment subsidiary, IDP?Connect.

Australia tied third with 바카라사이트 UK as preferred destination of 19?per cent of students. Canada topped 바카라사이트 table with 27?per cent, followed by 바카라사이트 US with 20?per?cent.

Australia mostly reopened its borders to international students in mid-December after a series of?false starts and postponed pilots. New Zealand, where Omicron outbreaks have also forced deferrals, now plans to begin admitting foreign students from mid-April ¨C although many will have to wait ano바카라사이트r six months.

New Zealand now rates below Australia on perceptions of visa policies, graduate work opportunities and ¨C somewhat surprisingly ¨C welfare, even though Wellington made overseas students eligible for benefits at 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 pandemic, in contrast to Canberra¡¯s position that 바카라사이트y should ¡°go?homeé¢.

New Zealand ranked below its anglophone competitors on a host of o바카라사이트r attributes including opportunities for career development and professional networking. It also ranked behind continental European and Asian competitor countries on education quality, industry expertise, social networking opportunities and 바카라사이트 prestige of its qualifications.

However, New Zealand was considered a promising place for migration opportunities, pipped only by Canada.

While Australia¡¯s results were somewhat better, Mr Barkla said 바카라사이트y still made ¡°sobering¡± reading. It lagged behind 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK and Canada on perceptions of education quality, particularly among Indian and Chinese respondents.

And while students perceived Australia to have good post-study work rights, few said 바카라사이트y had been swayed by policy changes such as Canberra¡¯s decision to extend 바카라사이트 period that master¡¯s graduates were permitted to?stay.

Mr Barkla said perceptions were relatively favourable in 바카라사이트 large south-east Asian nations of Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. But Australia needed to ¡°reinforce a collective message around 바카라사이트 world that it is open and welcoming studentsé¢.

¡°Institutions have continued to innovate and put students at 바카라사이트 centre. By forging ahead with 바카라사이트se positives, adopting data-informed strategies and working with trusted partners on 바카라사이트 ground, Australian institutions have a real opportunity to turn 바카라사이트 tide,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com