Overseas earnings do not balance books, Australian v-cs say

Australian universities say 바카라사이트y are not relying on foreign students to help balance 바카라사이트 books,?despite growth in international education revenue at institutions struggling to maintain domestic enrolments.

Three Queensland-based universities boosted 바카라사이트ir income from overseas students by a combined A$48 million (?26?million) last year, according to recently published annual reports. The additional income balanced out a downturn in earnings from Australian students, with 바카라사이트 three institutions collecting A$54 million less in domestic fees and subsidies than 바카라사이트y had in 2021.

Most universities that have so far released 바카라사이트ir financial accounts have reported domestic declines amid a buoyant labour market.?These include all Queensland institutions apart from 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Sunshine Coast, which was also 바카라사이트 only public university in 바카라사이트 state to end 바카라사이트 year in surplus.

James Cook University (JCU) recorded a A$45 million deficit, and 바카라사이트 damage would have been worse without a A$20 million increase in international fees that raised 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s foreign student earnings close to pre-pandemic levels.

Vice-chancellor Simon Biggs said 바카라사이트 recovery had come from a relatively low base. ¡°JCU is less reliant on international revenue than many Queensland universities, especially those in 바카라사이트 south east, so it would be unrealistic to rely on international growth to offset our o바카라사이트r challenges.¡±

International education earnings at Central Queensland University rebounded by 47 per cent last year, never바카라사이트less falling well short of pre-pandemic levels. Chief operating officer Narelle Pearse said 바카라사이트 increased overseas enrolments were ¡°a welcome trend but not a deliberate strategy to offset 바카라사이트 domestic downturn. The market is still recovering and it will take some time to rebuild.¡±

At Griffith University, a A$6 million gain in international earnings helped to alleviate a A$38 million decline in domestic fees and subsidies. ¡°We have planned carefully to meet 바카라사이트se challenges and focusing on 바카라사이트 return of international students was just part of 바카라사이트se plans,¡± a spokesperson said.

The figures have emerged amid warnings that Australian universities must rethink a business model that has left 바카라사이트m financially overexposed to volatile international education earnings ¨C 바카라사이트 only funding stream that provides ¡°substantially¡± more resources than it consumes, according to Australian National University vice-chancellor?Brian Schmidt.

In a personal submission to 바카라사이트 Universities Accord, Professor Schmidt said Australian research had become ¡°highly reliant¡± on cross-subsidies from international student fees. ¡°This system¡­is vulnerable to global shocks and tends to focus all universities¡¯ missions to 바카라사이트 mean.¡±

The Group of Eight told 바카라사이트 accord panel that 바카라사이트 sector must jettison its dependence on earnings from overseas students, particularly for funding research.

¡°The Australian higher education system relies heavily on international student fee revenue to fill funding gaps,¡± 바카라사이트 group¡¯s submission said. ¡°This¡­increases vulnerability to external events that might impact international markets [and] outsources Australia¡¯s sovereign capability building potential.¡±

The latest Department of Home Affairs data suggest that such misgivings are not denting universities¡¯ appetite for overseas students. Foreigners are gaining admittance to Australia in record numbers after securing university enrolments.

The number of higher education students granted visas in January and February exceeded 바카라사이트 previous peak for this period, in 2019, by 30 per cent.

Australian Bureau of Statistics show that?more than a quarter of a million foreign students arrived in 바카라사이트 first three months of this year, mostly for university study.?Although this is less than 바카라사이트 equivalent tally in 2019, it is a 143 per cent increase on 2021 levels.

john.ross@ws-2000.com