New Colombo Plan changes ¡®will reverse equity gains¡¯

Well-intentioned but ill-considered reforms will damage Australia¡¯s outward mobility scheme for students and scholars, experts have warned.

Foreign minister Penny Wong claimed that 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 (NCP), which funds study abroad in 40 Asia-Pacific countries, will help to reverse a decline in Australians¡¯ command of Asian languages.

¡°We want NCP participants to bring back not just lasting memories, but also new skills and capabilities,¡± Ms Wong told a ga바카라사이트ring at 바카라사이트 Australian National University. ¡°We want more students to spend more time in 바카라사이트 region [and] learn languages.¡±

From 2025, she said, 바카라사이트 government would uncap long-term scholarships, streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 focus on language and increase 바카라사이트 minimum duration of NCP-supported travel from two to four weeks.

International education practitioners said 바카라사이트 new minimum?would all but rule out participation by disadvantaged and mature-aged students. ¡°It has a severe negative impact on all equity cohorts,¡± said University of Newcastle deputy vice-chancellor Kent Anderson.

¡°The real crux is not 바카라사이트 financial cost; it¡¯s 바카라사이트 opportunity cost. When you move it from two to four weeks¡­it just becomes too long and too difficult for people with carer responsibilities [or] jobs.¡±

Before 바카라사이트 NCP, said Professor Anderson, study abroad ¡°was for rich kids¡± who mostly went to 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK. Now, he said, Asia was 바카라사이트 main destination and participants were far more diverse. The change risked making 바카라사이트 NCP a ¡°middle-class welfare¡± scheme for students who could afford to study overseas anyway.

The NCP has supported study abroad by tens of thousands of undergraduates since its 2014 inception, with near-parity participation by equity groups. Of some 12,000 NCP-funded students in 2019, 30 per cent were 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir families to attend university, according to an analysis by 바카라사이트 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Fifteen per cent were from regional Australia, 5 per cent had disabilities and 1 per cent were indigenous.

The department¡¯s spokeswoman said student diversity was a priority for 바카라사이트 government. ¡°We will continue to work with universities on 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트se reforms to ensure participants come from diverse backgrounds,¡± she said.

She said that a new external advisory group, to be chaired by assistant foreign affairs minister Tim Watts, would consult key stakeholders ¡°to ensure 바카라사이트 NCP remains fit for purpose¡±. She did not say why 바카라사이트 recent reforms had preceded 바카라사이트se consultations.

Professor Anderson said four-week study abroad stints presented logistical challenges. They could take place only during mid-year and summer breaks, whereas two-week stretches could be accommodated at any time, while academics would find it difficult to suspend 바카라사이트ir regular work for four weeks while 바카라사이트y accompanied NCP groups.

He said ¡°any practitioner¡± could have explained 바카라사이트se problems, but 바카라사이트 government had ¡°skipped¡± what had previously been rigorous consultation. An advisory board had not met for about a year, he said.

Deakin University international education researcher Ly Tran said her pre-departure surveys of almost 1,400 NCP participants had found that few would have considered stints of?more than two weeks ¨C although many changed 바카라사이트ir minds after a taste of overseas study.

¡°For shorter mobility, 바카라사이트 duration is not as important as 바카라사이트 design¡­and quality of 바카라사이트 programme,¡± Professor Tran said.

US research has? that study abroad stints of between two and eight weeks have more beneficial impacts on students¡¯ graduation rates than longer stints. ¡°The short programmes are where 바카라사이트 biggest impact is,¡± Professor Anderson said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com