March 2009

Issue 20

Inside this issue: International Association of

President’s column 1 Editor’s note This issue of VISTA focuses especially on the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and the im- The Global Financial Crisis— 2 pacts of migration changes, with commentary by the IEAA President, Stephen Connelly Thinking Ahead and Helen Zimmerman (Navitas).

Cash injection to pursue the 4 This issue also announces a public policy agenda coming out of the IEAA Board’s strate- main markets gic planning day in February. A copy of the Occasional Paper detailing the public policy Services Summit: The Brain 5 thrust is available free to IEAA members and can be obtained as indicated in the article in Economy is the Elephant in this issue on the Inaugural Services Summit held on 18 March at the Australian Parlia- the Room ment.

IEAA Public Policy Priorities 6 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Consultations on Bradley 6 Recommendations needed Colleagues, Professional Development: 7 tion, but other March events What’s coming up covered in this issue of VISTA provided a It has been a month for Canberra gather- context for that debate to be pursued. ings. Inaugural Winter Interna- 8 Last week Helen Cook represented IEAA tional Researchers Seminar In March I attended the inaugural Universi- at the DEEWR international education ties Australia Conference roundtable hosted by AEI, and opened by 8 in Canberra. I decided to attend this confer- DPM Gillard. Experts Database ence rather than one of the competitor A couple of days later Tony Adams repre- conferences in support of UA's efforts to try sented IEAA at the Services Summit 2009 Short Study-Abroad Trips Can 9 to take some control of the Higher Educa- hosted by the Australian Services Round- Have Lasting Effect, Re- tion conference space. table. With the assistance of Alan Olsen, search Suggest IEAA prepared a background paper for Even though I confess to not attending all this summit, in which IEAA calls for a Min- Mark your calendars! 10 sessions (I can't recall a conference at ister, or at least a Parliamentary Secre- which I have ever done that), the presenta- tary, for International Education. Mem- tions I witnessed made the trip worthwhile, bers may have seen the article in today's including addresses by the DPM Julia Gil- AFR education section quoting Tony and lard and Minister Kim Carr. the IEAA paper.

The international session featured Tony The current economic climate empha- Pollock (IDP), David Battersby (University of sises the need to grasp this opportunity Ballarat) and Sandra Harding (James Cook to be more strategic as an industry. We University) with their insightful perspectives have had a Tourism Minister in Australia on the current global economic situation possibly since Hoges was throwing and the possible impact on Australia. prawns on the barbie and promoting Aus- tralia as a travel destination to the UK. I The theme and structure of the session did admit none of us would want the equiva- not allow for broader discussion of Austra- lent of a 'where the bloody hell are you' lia's strategic intent in international educa- campaign for international education, but Issue 20 Page 2

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN (continued) the industry is bigger than all other money quality education experi- exports bar two, underwrites by a ence in Australia, will be critical to considerable amount the tourism the sustainability of the industry. industry in this country, and was described by the DPM as support- Over the coming months, IEAA will ing "an estimated 80, 000 Austra- be releasing papers and commen- lian jobs". tary that will outline the elements of a national strategy for interna- We face significant challenges, tional education in this country, including rising competition, an underpinned by research demon- uncertain world economic outlook, strating the value of the industry to an ageing workforce with particu- the nation, and identifying what is lar implications for teaching and at stake if we don't act strategi- research capability and possible cally or in a coordinated manner. erosion of our safe destination tag with safety issues for international students in 's west and We look forward to engaging the other Australian cities. industry in the debate about how we shape the future of interna- How we develop a national strat- tional . egy to remain at the forefront of international education worldwide, Stephen Connelly and how we can improve on what we do to ensure international stu- President dents continue to get a value for

THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS - THINKING AHEAD

[Invited commentary by time high, while maintain- ness, we should hopefully of presentations by Access Helen Zimmerman, ing the need for higher ride through any misguided Economics and AEI coun- Navitas] level skills in demand in- calls for further reduced sellors and engagement dustries. migration. Skilled migration with industry representa- February’s lead article The and international students tives from ELICOS, secon- Economic Migration Blues In the international educa- who seek to migrate are dary, vocational and higher raised the spectre of a tion industry it is likely that both essential contributors education. xenophobic reaction to in- we will see a short-term, to maintaining and increas- ternational students and negative impact on some ing Australia’s productivity. This is not a time for popu- migration due to rising un- providers that have struc- list, ‘quick fixes’. Yes, we employment as a conse- tured their recruitment of The editorial posed a num- need to ensure we have quence of the Global Finan- students around the ‘quick ber of questions on the the latest market intelli- cial Crisis (GFC). path to migration’ MODL impact of the GFC will have gence. Frequent and timely

driven courses. But these on our international educa- briefings from in-country Last week the Minister for are a small section of our tion industry – at $15.5 AEI counsellors are an es- Immigration did in fact an- industry. billion Australia’s third larg- sential and welcome part of nounce a cut to the Skilled est export industry and this. And yes, we need to Migration program of 14% As the Government’s eco- largest services export in- ensure we have contin- in the 2008-09 permanent nomic rescue and Skilling dustry. These questions gency plans in place to pro- skilled migration program Australia measures begin are the major topic of dis- vide support and assis- intake from 133, 500 to to kick in, and if the Gov- cussion in education insti- tance to current students 115, 000. However it is ernment remains prepared tutions across Australia who are experiencing hard- important to note that the to defend the need for and were to the fore last ship. And yes, Government reduction was a targeted skilled migration as a key week at the AEI Roundtable needs to actively support political one, aimed at plank of Australia’s long on International Education, the health of its 3rd largest bringing back the Skilled term economic competitive- where we had the benefit export industry. Migration level from an all Issue 20 Page 3

THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS - THINKING AHEAD (continued)

But the GFC has only brought into stark reality the issues that were on the table already – demographic drivers in our source countries, the shift of power and Helen Zimmerman is the Executive General Manager, influence from West to East, the emergence of ‘non- Language and Workforce Training of , traditional’ competitors, the significance of interna- an Australian national and international education tional student tuition fee revenues for university provider operating across the traditional sectoral budgets in the face of underinvestment in education boundaries whose offerings include University path- by Governments, an ageing and diminishing educa- way and managed university campus programs; Eng- tion workforce, new generations of learners literate in lish as second language courses for international technologies many of us are still rejecting, who are students and English language settlement and work looking for friendship and connection as well as en- preparation programs for migrants and refugees; and hanced employability skills as part of their ‘Australian recruitment of students for educational institutions in quality education experience’. Australia, , the US and the UK through major networks in China and India. These drivers require new paradigms; new ways of http://www.navitasworld.com working together. Engagement and trusted partner- ship will become fundamental core competencies as will responsiveness and flexibility, openness, creativ- ity, and global connection. Failure to change our way of ‘doing business’ will only deepen the impact of the GFC and leave us vulnerable in the post-GFC dec- ades.

Issue 20 Page 4

CASH INJECTION TO PURSUE THE MAIN MARKETS

Industry leaders met in Canberra on 16 March at the AEI organ- ised Roundtable on the Global Financial Crisis. INDUSTRY The Roundtable coincided with the annual visit of AEI counsellors ROUNDTABLE who were able to update participants on the relevant country markets. It was also an opportunity for consultation about key issues that institutions identified.

AEI counsellor presentations were delivered by brief regional summary, copies of which are available to MIP subscribers through the AEI website.

Chris Richardson from Access Economics gave a commissioned Key points from the GFC Roundtable and lucid description of the forces at work leading to the global credit crisis within the banking system. Richardson noted the decline of individuals’ wealth to income ratio which became inevi- • 2009 to be the worst year in decades for table as shares, housing and other sources of wealth declined the global economy - recession momen- and the serious decline in world trade due to the lack of bank tum has built up to the extent that it is lending, an outcome of lack of trust in fellow bankers. unstoppable

• The reduction in exports from major Asian Julia Gillard, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Educa- tion, Training and Workplace Relations Minister for Social Inclu- countries will impact on the Australian sion, addressed the roundtable and committed the Australian economy producing a modest recession government to supporting the success of international education. • Recovery worldwide is likely to occur dur- She was also very clear about the importance of productivity and ing 2010, with Asian markets being the its effect on economies. first to emerge She talked about the Education Revolution and the contribution • The crisis will hit international education, international education makes in many ways, including the num- but with a lag. ber of jobs. She talked about the quality of the student experi- ence and of graduates with advanced skills. • The adverse impact may not be substan- tial She also announced that AEI would focus on an intensive 2010 • The crisis will pass drive which included showcasing Australian education to promote education and research training. She nominated a focus on en- • As a service/brain industry we are 'on the hancing the student experience and on improved strategic advice right side of history' as two other areas of this 2010 initiative. These matters are being followed up now by IEAA in discussions with AEI. • Developing countries are going through their industrial revolutions Colin Walters, Group Manager of AEI, outlined AEI’s plans to bring • Populations in developing countries are together and redirect all available resources to focus on building becoming wealthier (and the number of a 2010 strategy. Over $3.5 million has been allocated to imple- people in the wealthier parts of these ment the strategy. populations is growing) The AEI strategy aims to: • Culturally, in many important markets for Australia, an undergraduate education is • Position Australia in current circumstances (including ensur- seen as a non-discretionary investment by parents in their children’s future and if ing government to government relations remain strong) they or the extended family have the ca-

pability to pay, they will do it • Showcase strengths of the Australian international education • The countries/cultures concerned are all portfolio the key markets for Australian education

• It 'makes sense' that people from these • Focus on the student experience. countries will continue to seek to be edu-

cated in Australia and it 'makes sense' Further consultation with industry will occur before the strategy that Australia should continue to success- is finalised. fully export education services. Issue 20 Page 5

THE BRAIN ECONOMY IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

SERVICES “Australian politicians and the Austra- held with the Hon. Dr Craig Emerson lian public are yet to realize that tangi- MP, the Minister for Small Business, SUMMIT ble support for the ‘brain industries’ is Independent Contractors and the Ser- as critical for Australia’s future and for vice Economy to discuss next step in Australian jobs as support for the re- developing a services strategy for Aus- sources industries”, said Tony Adams, tralia. Immediate Past President of the Inter- national Education Association of Aus- The IEAA position paper, The Austra- tralia (IEAA), addressing the first ever lian International Education Industry, Services Summit at Parliament House was distributed to all Summit dele- Canberra on 18 March. gates. It provides a useful summary analysis of the industry and its current “The Australian Government should directions and needs. Alan Olsen of appoint a dedicated Minister, or at a SPRE Pty Ltd, kindly assisted in prepa- minimum a Parliamentary Secretary, ration of the paper. with responsibility for international education”, said Adams. The paper is being published as an IEAA Occasional Paper and will be “The Government should also partner made available free to IEAA members with industry to develop a comprehen- requesting it. sive national strategy on international education, with a set of well funded The Services Summit was organised priority program initiatives. Funding by the Australian Services Roundta- support for the industry should be ble, a caucus group involving the ma- lifted to levels commensurate with the jor services industries (education, support already provided by govern- tourism, transport, telecommunica- ment to Australia’s other major export tions, IT). The IEAA Board will con- industries”. sider whether the Association should become a member of the Roundta- These policy proposals form part of ble. the IEAA broad public policy priorities for the industry developed through the IEAA Board during the Board’s plan- ning day in February 2009 (see inset p 6).

The purpose of the Summit was to voice service industry needs to a se- lected parliamentary and government audience involving ministers and their senior political and administrative staff.

The Assistant Treasurer, the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, was the dinner speaker. A breakfast roundtable was Issue 20 Page 6

IEAA Public Policy Priorities • A comprehensive national policy on international edu- • Improved support and expansion of programs cation and a suite of properly funded priority program for Australian students to study abroad initiatives to give effect to identified strategic objec-

tives • Better support for students (both domestic and • More effective engagement between industry and gov- international) to improve their intercultural ex- periences on campus, to ensure they are ernment to better resource crucial priority industry “globally literate” and to enable them to partici- research and program initiatives at a level commensu- pate effectively in an increasingly globalised rate with support given to other major Australian ex- workforce port industries

• Increase understanding within the Australian • Improved coordination across government to ensure community about the importance of interna- an alignment of policies and program strategies to tional education support industry development, regulation and skilled

migration • The Australian Government to engage and con- • Map strategic directions and maintain a sustainable sult all sectors of the international education industry in the final design of the independent ‘trade’ agenda to ensure continued targeted growth, regulatory body and the independent industry with a more diverse body, a development body proposed by the Review of greater proportion of higher degree research students Higher Education and an effective balanced growth across the public

and private sectors • The Australian Government to appoint a dedi- • Expand and support priority international research cated Minister, or at a minimum a Parliamen- tary Secretary, with responsibility for interna- collaboration and industry linkages tional education

CONSULTATIONS ON BRADLEY RECOMMENDATIONS NEEDED

The Australian Government’s re- lian international education more BRADLEY REVIEW sponses are beginning to emerge to effectively (recommendation 12). two major review reports impacting A number of models are suggested on international education, the Cutler for the second body by the Review Review on Innovation and the Brad- including a “British Council” type ar- ley Review of Australia’s Higher Edu- rangement. and workplace relations. cation System. Industry, including IEAA, is strongly The partnership between industry The Review of Higher Education in advocating for the Australian Govern- and government needs to be more particular has made a number of ment to properly for consult industry effective than it is currently to capital- recommendations to strengthen Aus- about what the final shape of the ize on Australia’s considerable tralian international education indus- response to these two recommenda- achievements, experience and try which the industry largely sup- tions should be. The implications strengths in international education. ports. cross all sectors.

Two significant recommendations of It will be critical to the success of the the Review of Higher Education re- proposed approach that all sectors late to (1) a new independent regula- are engaged and consulted in the tory body for international education final design of the two new bodies (recommendation 11) and (2) the and to ensure a truly whole of govern- establishment of a new independent ment approach involving immigra- industry development/ marketing tion, trade, foreign affairs, services, body to promote and market Austra- tourism, and education, employment Issue 20 Page 7

2009 Professional Development Program

Last Vista edition, The Association announced the launch of IEAA’s 2009 Professional development program, which can be viewed in detail online. Below are the workshops Professional coming up over the next month. Development What’s coming up...

Transnational Education: Learning and Teaching in HE Intercultural Communication with Indian Students

Date April 22nd Date April 30th

Location RMIT, Melbourne Location University of Melbourne, Melbourne

Audience Middle to Senior Level Audience Teaching, professional, management and academic teaching staff in HE support staff across the tertiary sector, who interact with International students. Synopsis • Establish the professional development needs of both onshore and offshore staff in Synopsis • Cultural differences in relations to transnational programs Indian students;

• Develop PD program to address these • Issues of concern across HE in teach- needs. ing Indian students;

Closing date 15 April 2009 Closing date 23 April 2009

Interculltural inclusion on Campus: Enhancing Interactions Introduction to International Education Between International and Local Students

Date May 6th Date May 12th

Location , Location University of , Adelaide

Audience Management and student support staff in all Audience Newcomers to the industry (up to 18months) education sectors

Synopsis • Concept of intercultural inclusiveness Synopsis • Current major issues & trends;

• The integration experience of interna- • The regulatory environment; tional students • Systems and players; • Barriers to social integration and how to overcome them • Student servicing: academically, socially and emotionally; • Strategies for inclusion in and out of the classroom • Marketing and communications specific Closing date 5 May 2009 Closing date 30 April 2009

For a detailed overview of each of the above workshops as well as information on all other upcoming ieaa workshops and symposiums, please go to the Profes- sional Development section of our website at www.ieaa.org.au. Issue 20 Page 8

INAUGURAL WINTER INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCHERS SEMINAR

IEAA is presenting a one day Winter Inter- national Education Researchers Seminar beginning on the evening of Thursday 11 June 2009 followed by a day long pro- RESEARCH gram on Friday 12 June. The venue will be the Research Lounge, RMIT City Cam- pus, Melbourne.

This will be the first event of the Interna- Participants will include researchers, tional Education Researchers Forum. including Masters and PhD research stu- The Forum aims to develop a network of dents and post-doctoral researchers; researchers, including new and emerging executive managers in international edu- researchers and those managing re- cation from all sectors; sector peak bod- search, in the broad field of international ies; research and funding bodies inter- education to: ested in international education; and

government agencies. • encourage interaction between

researchers and practitioners from industry, academia and gov- There will be a keynote presentation on ernment the evening of 11 June, followed by op- tional dinner. The program on 12 June will involve presentations by new re- • facilitate discussion on current searchers with an opportunity for infor- and future research priorities mal feed-back. Experienced researchers will lead working groups or participate in • contribute towards the develop- panels. ment of an Australian industry- There will be ample opportunity for net- based research agenda working and discussion.

• disseminate information on cur- rent research, funding possibili- Details of submission of proposals for ties, publishing, meetings etc in research papers/overviews and presen- international education tations will be available on the IEAA web- site www.ieaa.org.au mid April. • develop links between Australian and international researchers Registrations for the event will open on across institutions, sectors and 15 April 2009 on the IEAA website. For fields of study. further information please contact Den- nis Murray on [email protected].

EXPERTS DATABASE

The Center for International Higher Education at College has announced a searchable “Experts Database” that identifies scholars and practitioners around the world who have expertise in specific areas of international higher education. The database can be accessed from the CIHE homepage: www.bc.edu/cihe. IEAA members who would like to be listed in the da- tabase may do so at: www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/form/subscription.htm. Issue 20 Page 9

SHORT STUDY-ABROAD TRIPS CAN HAVE LASTING EFFECT, RESEARCH SUGGESTS OUTBOUND MOBILITY The U.S. Chronicle for Higher done with intensity of More startling, and poten- Education on 20 February learning, a short-term pro- tially more controversial, is reported that the length of gram can have impact." the finding that program time students study over- duration, in and of itself, seas has no significant im- seems to matter little in pact on whether they be- The Minnesota study, predicting long-term global makes a program effective. come globally engaged later which surveyed nearly engagement. He and his colleagues in life, according to research- 6,400 graduates of 22 hope to further mine the ers at the University of Min- colleges who had studied data to examine the inter- nesota-Twin Cities, “a con- overseas during the last Short-term programs, which relationship of a number of clusion that is sure to add five decades, sought to are typically led by faculty variables, such as whether fuel to the already fiery de- learn the ways in which members, have been rising students studied with other bate over the efficacy of in- those individuals had be- in popularity, but sceptics Americans or with foreign creasingly popular short- come globally engaged have criticized them as be- students. term study-abroad program”. and the degree to which ing little more than cultural that engagement could be tourism, saying that in many

attributed to having stud- of them students spend Presenters at another Fo- The findings of the Study ied abroad. The research- most of their time with rum session offered practi- Abroad for Global Engage- ers defined engagement in other Americans and have cal advice for crafting ef- ment project, presented at several ways, including little opportunity to immerse fective short-term pro- the annual conference of the volunteerism and philan- themselves in the local cul- grams. One key, they Forum on Education Abroad, thropy, involvement in ture. agreed, is to ensure that suggest that students who international and domestic such programs, despite go overseas for a short pe- political issues, and lead- their brevity, have a strong riod of time, four weeks or ership in academic grounding. less, are just as likely as that benefit the commu- those who study abroad for nity and society. several months or even a Acknowledgments: year to be globally engaged. Journalist: Karen Ficher, The results of the survey, Chronicle for Higher a summary of which have Education been posted on the pro- "It's both exciting and disap- Advocates for such trips ject’s Web site found that pointing," said Gerald W. Fry, counter that they help make study abroad did influence a professor of international- overseas study possible for the participants to become development education at students who might not be more globally engaged. Minnesota and one of the able to commit the time or study's principal investiga- have the financial re- That result is likely to tors. "On one hand, you'd sources to study for a se- come as no surprise to hope that studying in a coun- mester or more. international educators, try for a long period of time who have long argued that would be particularly mean- study abroad was transfor- ingful." On the other, he said, mative. Mr. Fry said the study sug- the study's findings suggest gests that a more complex that "if it's done right, if it's combination of factors

Editor’s notes:

Dr Brian Whalen, Forum President and CEO, will visit Australia during the end of March and early April and will meet with the IEAA president, Stephen Connelly and the IEAA Executive Director, Dennis Murray. VISTA will report on discussions with Dr Whalen in its next issue. The International Education Association of Aus- tralia (ieaa) is Australia’s leading international International Education Association of education professional organisation. Australia

Po Box 2183 Its mission is to enhance the quality and standing of 3122Hawthorn Australian international education by serving the Victoria, Australia professional needs and interests of its members and Web: www.ieaa.org.au by promoting international education within Aus- Email: [email protected] tralia and internationally. Phone: +61 3 9214 59 11 Fax: +61 3 9214 55 07

IEAA, Making a difference.

www.ieaa.org. au

Mark your calendars!

Please refer to the Professional Development page for details on upcoming IEAA workshops.

ACA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2009 Date: 13 - 15 May Venue: University of Warsaw, Poland Registrations: Currently open

INAUGRAL WINTER INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCHERS SEMINAR Date: 11—12 June Venue: Research Lounge RMIT University City Campus Melbourne

Registrations: Open 15th April