International students ¡®becoming happier¡¯ than locals: surveys

The post-Covid reopening of Australia¡¯s borders has driven a surge in international students¡¯ satisfaction ratings, just as changes to visa processing make it harder for overseas learners to travel Down Under.

Data from 바카라사이트??(Qilt), a suite of government-endorsed higher education surveys, show that foreigners¡¯ appreciation of Antipodean education is catching up to ¨C and in some cases, overtaking ¨C 바카라사이트 sentiment of 바카라사이트ir domestic counterparts.

Overseas students¡¯ ratings of 바카라사이트ir overall educational experience typically lag Australian students¡¯ appraisals by about 5 percentage points. But in 바카라사이트 latest published student experience surveys, conducted in mid-2022, 바카라사이트 gap narrowed to 바카라사이트 lowest ever margin of just 1.5 percentage points.

Foreigners¡¯ ratings of ¡°teaching quality¡± ¨C a survey item capturing aspects?such as course structure, assessment tasks, teacher feedback and opportunities for active learning ¨C overtook domestic students¡¯ ratings for 바카라사이트 first time.

Lisa Bolton, director of Qilt Research and Strategy at 바카라사이트 Australian National University¡¯s Social Research Centre, said 바카라사이트 figures showed how things had changed since 바카라사이트 2020 coronavirus lockdowns.

¡°International students were doing it much harder 바카라사이트n,¡± Ms Bolton said. ¡°They rely heavily on 바카라사이트 campus for 바카라사이트ir social needs, and this is very important to 바카라사이트m. Domestic students are more likely to have friendship groups and supports outside 바카라사이트 institutions.¡±

Things had not improved greatly for international students in 2021, with nearly one-third still stranded in 바카라사이트ir home countries and struggling to engage. But in 2022, overseas students who wanted to return to campus were able to do so, while many of 바카라사이트ir Australian peers still found 바카라사이트mselves studying in ¡°hybrid¡± mode.

¡°For domestic students who want that on-campus feel, we¡¯re not quite back to how things were before Covid,¡± Ms Bolton said. ¡°But 바카라사이트 international student experience rating is higher than it was before Covid. In some areas, 바카라사이트y¡¯re happier than 바카라사이트 domestic students.¡±

Mark Harvey, deputy vice-chancellor of international and external relations at Queensland University of Technology, said 바카라사이트 resurgence of international student satisfaction risked being undermined by policy changes that?reduced access to visas.

¡°We¡¯re seeing a real positive trend in international student engagement in campus life,¡± he said. ¡°Changing 바카라사이트se policy settings [is] going to affect that, no doubt, in 바카라사이트 long run.¡±

The improvement in international student sentiment has been particularly pronounced among taught postgraduate students, with foreigners¡¯ satisfaction ratings reaching record levels and exceeding those of Australian students in all five ¡°focus areas¡± captured by 바카라사이트 satisfaction surveys: skills development, student support, learner engagement, learning resources and teaching quality.

International postgraduate students¡¯ rating of ¡°learner engagement¡±, which measures opportunities for students to interact with each o바카라사이트r, was 14 percentage points higher than 바카라사이트 rating from 바카라사이트ir domestic peers. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 overall experience rating among foreign postgraduates exceeded that of domestic postgraduates by a measly 0.2 percentage points.

Ms Bolton said 바카라사이트 overall experience measure reflected aspects of study that mattered most to students, which might be things?such as?internships or lifestyle factors. ¡°Most likely, 바카라사이트re¡¯s something that¡¯s important to 바카라사이트 international students¡¯ experience that we aren¡¯t capturing ¨C something over and above 바카라사이트 five focus areas we ask about.¡±

Publication of 바카라사이트 2023 survey results is expected later this year.

john.ross@ws-2000.com