AWIC highlights education as a major investment
As Australia Week in China comes to an end, education has made itself a major talking point for the delegation. Chinese students account for 27 percent of Australia’s international student demographic, and with this set to increase, it’s no wonder the Australia universities are investing heavily in their pitch. As a portion of the Australian economy, international education contributed a sizeable $17 billion in 2014, and Australian tertiary rankings continue to rise globally. This, coupled with the relative affordability of Australian degrees and the ‘relaxed lifestyle’, has made Australia a major destination for Chinese students. AWIC will be focussing heavily on reinforcing this international partnership for Chinese and Australian mutual benefit. Click here for the full article.
Australians in tech experiencing ‘critical’ decline
At the Knowledge Nation summit in Sydney ‘Freelancer’ CEO Matt Barrie suggested education as the primary tool for boosting Australians in tech. He quoted a 40-60 percent decline in students studying IT over the past decade, with this decrease exemplified in female enrolments, noting that this was occurring during a historic boom in technology. Barrie highlighted a hole in Australia’s kindergarten to year 12 system, stating that pre-tertiary focus on IT was lacking. CSIRO chairman David Thodey reiterated this sentiment, urging the nation to ‘keep learning’ and to build on a culture of ‘continuous learning’. During the summit, the Estonian model was toted as the benchmark, with 100 percent of publicly educated students learning how to code by age 7. To push Australia towards being involved and innovative when it comes to technology, both Barrie and Thodey see the answers in education. Click here for the full article.
Aussie university unveils plan to build Sino-Australian college in China
The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is the latest Australian university to look towards consolidating its Chinese tertiary-education partners. UTAS disclosed that it intends to sign agreements with three Chinese institutions in April, with the further intention of creating a Sino-Australian college established in both Australia and China. The trilateral collaboration includes The University of Tasmania, the University of Western Australia and prestigious Chongqing-based Southwest University. The UTAS hopes this partnership will be beneficial in promoting Tasmania’s education and business with the rest of the international community, as well as helpful in garnering a ‘global alumni network’ that will act as a conduit between the institutions of great influence. Click here for the full article.
Students face cancelled visas after sting in US
Hundreds of Chinese students studying in the US may have their visas cancelled and be deported as part of an operation by US Homeland Security. The sting was designed to crack down on illegitimate universities and the foreign students that attend them. An ever increasing amount of international students in the US, especially Chinese, means that it is extremely difficult in obtaining a H1B working visa- with only 80,000 international students selected out of at least 250,000. This is driving foreign students, sometimes unknowingly, to enroll in unlawful universities as a means of remaining in the US. Click here for the full article.