With memories of the 2009 racial attacks on Indian students fading, Australia is aggressively wooing students from India to pursue higher studies, including undertaking postgraduate research. Simultaneously, it is engaging with Indian universities under the New Colombo Plan, aimed at “lifting knowledge of the Indo-Pacific”.
Conceding that the U.S. and the U.K. are bigger markets and Australian institutions can’t be compared to Harvard or Cambridge, Tracy Harris, manager, Global Engagement and Promotions, International Education Division, Austrade, says, “but we have consistency in standards of education”.
Peter N. Varghese, chancellor, The University of Queensland, points out that six of the 39 Australian public universities figure among the top 100 global institutions. Asked if brand campaigns are to attract foreign students, he contends, “We don’t want to be seen as the ‘also ran’. Instead, we need to position Australia as a quality education destination. That’s why we are into branding.”
Inclusive environment
Melbourne, a multicultural city, is the favoured destination. “Melbourne was listed number 5 in the QS Best Student Cities List this year. About 44% of Indian students in Australia study in Melbourne,” reveals Amanda Pickrell, director, International Education, Department of Economic Development. The 24-hour Study Melbourne Student Centre serves as a go-to place for international students for any assistance.
As for student safety post-2009, Simon Stevens, Inspector, Spencer Street Police Station, who handles international students’ portfolio in Melbourne Central Business District, says “We have not seen any trend of racial attack on Indian students. One in 30 persons who lives here is an international student. Crime is confined to theft of wallets and mobile phones.”
“Our police force is extremely multicultural due to which we become more accepting and understanding. We make it easier for students to lodge complaints,” chips in Ali Gurdag, Acting Senior Sergeant.
Though management/commerce programmes are most preferred, those keen on pursuing research in science/engineering have opportunities to work under eminent scholars. “We want to attract the best minds from India,” says Chennupati Jagadish, Distinguished Nanotechnology Professor at Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, where millions of dollars have been invested in world class laboratories. “Our university has produced four Nobel laureates including the current Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt. ANU’s Research School of Physics and Engineering is the largest in Australia,” he says, adding that 5% of international students, who constitute 31% of the 23,761 pupils in ANU, are from India.
Ritika, an Indian-origin postgraduate student on an ANU India scholarship, says the university offers flexibility in choosing electives.
While universities have higher entry qualifications, university colleges (pathway institutions) have lower eligibility norms. Students enrolling in a pathway programme, a sub-degree, get credits to enter second year in universities.
Fee structures
Fee for international students is much higher than for domestic students. Australian universities have autonomy in fixing fees for international students. “About 20 years ago, 90-95% of funding for universities would come from government. Now it is 40-50%. So if you are managing the university’s funds, the proportion of international students — who pay real cost fees — has to grow,” explains Mr. Varghese.
Australian Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham says the thumb rule for universities while fixing fee structure for international students is to be mindful of “market demand”.
A general complaint of Indian students is elusive work permits and permanent residency in Australia. But Mr. Birmingham says the government recognises that providing work permits for students both during study and post-study is important for people to get excellent value out of the education undertaken in Australia. “There are pathways for Permanent Residencies depending on the nature of the qualification acquired,” he says without elaborating.
Most preferred courses for Indian students (based on enrolment in January 2017):
Management & Commerce
Information Technology
Food Hospitality & Personal Services
Engineering & Related Technologies
Society & Culture
Health
Facts in figures
Indian students, numbering 60,013, constituted the second largest group among international students in 2016. China was number one.
There was a slump in enrolment during 2009-13 after racial attacks on Indians in Melbourne.
Post-recovery, an increase of 9% (from 2015) was witnessed in enrolment of Indian students in 2016.
Australia is the second most popular destination for Indian higher education students studying abroad after the U.S.
Source: Department of Education and Training, Australia
The author was in Australia under the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade’s International Media Visit programme.