The Nature of International Education in Australian Universities and its Benefits Part 2

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1 The Nature of International Education in Australian Universities and its Benefits Part 2 Tim Dodd dodd.tim@bigpond.com People Connections Julia Gillard (2008): With well over a million alumni who have studied in Australia and returned home, and more than 450,000 enrolments across Australia, these people connections are vital to the future prosperity of our country. 1

2 Impact on public diplomacy International students live and study in Australia at a formative time of their lives Their Australian qualification is the springboard for their career They may retain friends and contacts made in Australia They help build a positive image of Australia in their home country What is public diplomacy? Senate report on public diplomacy (2007): Work or activities undertaken to understand inform and engage individuals and organisations in other countries in order to shape their perceptions in ways that will promote Australia and Australia s policy goals internationally. 2

3 Link to soft power Broader view from USC Center on Public Diplomacy: The impact of private activities from popular culture to fashion to sports to news to the internet that inevitably, if not purposefully, have an impact on foreign policy and national security as well as on trade, tourism and other national interests. Impact not immediate Public diplomacy paves the way for traditional diplomacy In public diplomacy the work is done before it is needed, not afterward Not always easy to measure the impact of public diplomacy Often it hasn t happened yet This study is necessarily qualitative and anecdotal 3

4 Colombo Plan Journalist Paul Kelly: The best example of Australian soft power. Est. 40,000 students studied in Australia Students were high quality Many felt obligated to give something back Many gained leadership roles in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia Political leadership Ric Smith (former ambassador): Five members of Indonesian Cabinet were Australian educated in during period of tense relations. Many ministers in Malaysia and Singapore were Australian-educated. In Malaysia it provided ballast in the relationship through a difficult period (Smith) 4

5 Tony Tan Former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Former Vice Chancellor of the National University of Singapore Doctorate Uni of Adelaide Stabilising PNG relations Australia s relations with Julius Chan, Mekere Morauta and Rabbie Namaliu generally better than other PMs All three were international students, Chan and Morauta in Australia. Journalist Rowan Callick: Other prime ministers, without those connections, often had more testy relations. 5

6 Role of university scholarship ANU is the world s best centre of research on the Indonesian economy Many Indonesian post-grad students and researchers in ANU s Indonesia Project Former students and researchers now highly influential in Indonesia Vice President, Trade Minister Long term effort, founded in 1965 Boediono Vice President of Indonesia Formerly Central Bank governor, Economics Minister, Finance Minister Bachelors UWA Masters Monash Researcher - ANU 6

7 People to people links Potentially one of the great benefits of international education 45% of international graduates formed networks with Australians 23% did not International students network more with other international students than with Australians (IDP research) People-to-people outcomes Barack Obama father Barack Obama, Kenyan student in US Penny Wong father Frances Wong, Malaysian Colombo Plan student in Australia 7

8 Family ties International students who remain in Australia as skilled migrants create family ties with other countries Families and friends of international students boost tourism Attend graduation ceremonies Public diplomacy in action Boost positive view of Australia Cheong Choong Kong Chairman of OCBC Bank Chief executive of Singapore Airlines, Colombo Plan scholar Bachelors Uni of Adelaide Masters, doctorate - ANU 8

9 Maintaining ties Chris Manning (ANU Indonesia Project): My experience over a long period of time is that the association with Australia does dissipate quite significantly over time. So by the time these guys get into important positions their Australian experience often is no longer important to them. Programs to maintain links needed Business and trade Michael Abrahams (former Austrade chief in Jakarta): So many people [in Indonesia] have been educated in, or worked in, or lived in Australia. Indonesia s largest supermarket has 2,500 Australian lines It has come from the students who have come back and want their violet crumbles and their cherry ripes. 9

10 Business ties Australian alumni more numerous in politics than business However graduates at more junior levels engaged in trade involving Australia Over 20% of graduates said they managed or controlled an international supply chain involving an Australian business or industry (IDP research) India and China potential These countries are poised to be major economic powers in the region Both account for a high proportion of international students in Australia China 28%, India 15% in 2008 Australia is well positioned to create future business and trade links 10

11 What universities do Universities contribute to Australia s positive image through: Activities in other countries Contact with overseas universities and government agencies Portrayal of Australia as a creative and innovative country Universities contribution Australian universities produce top researchers Three Nobel Prizes in four years Fields Medal to Terry Tao in 2006 Universities partnership with overseas higher education institutions 5,168 formal agreements 1,002 offshore programs (UA) 11

12 Pitfalls in public diplomacy Public diplomacy can be a negative force as well as positive Indian experience in 2009 shows its potency as a negative force Media influence very powerful Over half a million international students in Australia Their families and governments care about their experience Recovery period Positive outcomes can take a long time in public diplomacy Negative outcomes can be created very quickly Foundation of good will is firm enough to allow a fast recovery 12

13 Solutions Encourage Australian students to pursue languages studies and international studies Fund world-class research centres within universities Develop and fund key expertise on regional countries in universities Solutions Actively attract talented post-grad students to Australia with scholarships Maintain contact with alumni Develop business alumni groups Cultivate influential alumni Internship scheme for international graduates 13

14 Looking forward Australia is a major global player in international higher education 10% of world market Comparatively little government support Lack of funding for universities International education subsidises other university activities Build a national strategy Lack of a national strategy for international education Safety and regulatory issues have required government to review policies Could this be a catalyst for developing a co-ordinated national approach? 14