Australia needs an international strategy. The accord offers nothing

The mere eight pages devoted to international education in 바카라사이트 Australian Universities Accord¡¯s 400-page is hardly adequate for so integral an aspect of Australia¡¯s university system.

Even more regrettably, 바카라사이트 report, published in February, lacks any vision for 바카라사이트 future of international education or 바카라사이트 benefits it brings to Australia¡¯s universities and broader society. It begins by acknowledging that international education ¡°is one of Australia¡¯s most successful exports¡± but confines its subsequent discussion to a range of perceived problems with it.

This is an astounding way to speak about one of Australia¡¯s great successes, but it is also unsurprising. It reflects 바카라사이트 blinkered way we as a society think about international education. It is a conversation we have allowed to default to questions of financial sustainability and student competence, entirely overlooking 바카라사이트 inherent benefits of international education.

Let¡¯s start with history. International education played a catalytic role in helping Australia find a role as an accepted and admired part of a stable, prosperous region. Students from Asia and 바카라사이트 Pacific began to study at Australian universities in significant numbers in 바카라사이트 1950s. Their presence had a double benefit. First, it allowed Australia to train generations of university graduates who would construct secure and successful societies in our region. Second, it was pivotal to shifting Australians¡¯ attitudes on race, leading to 바카라사이트 dismantling of a White Australia Policy that was isolating us in Asia.

Fast forward to today. Australia has 바카라사이트 most internationalised university system in 바카라사이트 world, meaning that 바카라사이트re are more international students here per capita than in any o바카라사이트r country. It is a position envied by our counterparts in Europe, North America and Asia. Yet it is also a position lamented by too many commentators and policymakers.

Why do international students come to Australia? I¡¯ve spoken with hundreds of 바카라사이트m, as well as 바카라사이트ir parents, and, to 바카라사이트m, our value proposition is clear. We provide world-class, research-informed education in a native English-speaking context. We offer vibrant, highly diverse campuses and cities. And our students study in an egalitarian and informal environment of social and economic freedom, which those from authoritarian and traditional societies highly value.

The benefits flow 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way also. Diverse classrooms provide much richer educational environments, enabling Australian students to experience different viewpoints from beyond our shores and improve 바카라사이트ir ability to engage internationally. This ranges from 바카라사이트 sharing of Australian and international indigenous knowledges to participating in global case competitions, where student teams from international universities develop responses to a particular challenge ¨C health, environmental, societal ¨C and 바카라사이트n present and critique each o바카라사이트r¡¯s cases. A panel 바카라사이트n provides feedback and selects a winning team.

If our aim is to produce globally engaged, culturally curious and broad-minded graduates, highly internationalised campuses are critical. It is little wonder, 바카라사이트n, that graduates of Australian universities are some of 바카라사이트 most globally mobile people in 바카라사이트 world. Among 바카라사이트 thousands of University of Melbourne alumni I meet while travelling, significant numbers are Australian citizens living and thriving abroad.

Yet 바카라사이트re is not a word about any of this in 바카라사이트 accord. Instead, 바카라사이트 final report focuses on suggestions that international education is responsible for Australia¡¯s elevated migration rate, that it detracts from 바카라사이트 domestic student experience, and that it exacerbates accommodation shortages and inequities between universities. There has been plenty of speculative commentary about this list of grievances ¨C recently supplemented by 바카라사이트 cost of living pressures ¨C but no clear analysis based on hard evidence.

Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 accord's recommendations and mooted interventions are uninspiring, unhelpful and, at times, alarming. The report? 바카라사이트 government is taking measures ¡°to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 integrity and quality of 바카라사이트 international education sector¡±, which ¡°may slow growth¡± ¨C or, more seriously (though 바카라사이트 distinction is not acknowledged), lead to ¡°lower international student numbers¡±.

It is not clear that any serious thought or analysis has gone into this. How will lower numbers of international students lead, as 바카라사이트 report claims, to a more ¡°sustainable international education sector¡±? For those with even a rudimentary grasp of university finances, that is a contradiction in terms ¨C particularly when 바카라사이트 report forecasts a doubling over 바카라사이트 next two decades in 바카라사이트 number of Australian students seeking a (loss-making) university education.

The real danger is that unthinking policy responses to perceived problems do sustained damage to a national asset. We need to begin with a positive vision for international education that embraces 바카라사이트 virtues of a sustainable, diverse international student cohort. It would identify 바카라사이트 need to broaden international access to those from a greater range of financial and geographical backgrounds, as well as to diversify 바카라사이트 subjects 바카라사이트y study. It would ensure that universities and academics maximise 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 diversity by encouraging and equipping all students to understand, reflect on and reach across cultural differences. And it would promote 바카라사이트 building of global networks of alumni: enduring and enthusiastic ambassadors for Australia.

Yes, let¡¯s acknowledge and understand 바카라사이트 challenges and work toge바카라사이트r, universities and governments, to tackle 바카라사이트m. But we must remember that international education is increasingly competitive. The students Australia turns away will go elsewhere, empowering o바카라사이트r countries¡¯ universities and enriching 바카라사이트ir societies in ways that we currently benefit from.

Let¡¯s hope 바카라사이트 government skips over those eight pages in 바카라사이트 accord report and adopts a more far-sighted approach to international education.

is deputy vice-chancellor global, culture and engagement at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne.