Local Students VS International Students?

[costargh]

Backlash feared over uni students' cultural divide

A WIDENING gulf between international and local students has prompted warnings of resentment and a backlash on Australian university campuses, as overseas student numbers continue to grow.

The warnings come amid increasing concern over "fragility" in the sector arising from its dependence on international students. On average, universities derive 15% of their funding from overseas-student fees.

One of Australia's leading higher-education experts warns that despite the atmosphere on campuses generally supporting international students, there is "informal but real segregation" that could fuel tensions.

Claims of a divide have been backed up by student representatives.

Local students tended to work off campus and were not active in student life, while international students spent most of their time on campus, generally in the library, Professor Simon Marginson, of Melbourne University's Centre for Higher Education, told The Age.

"So you've got this odd situation with the local students half disengaged in a way I've never really seen before," he said.

"The international-student industry runs off the back of a reasonably strong local system which presumes a healthy relationship with the local students … all of that has become the marketing pitch.

"That's the flashpoint that worries me more than any other - that it could spring back into resentment."

National Union of Students president Angus McFarland said students were concerned about a lack of interaction.

Vice-chancellors had discussed with him how "cultural cliques" and "religious ghettos" could be overcome, Mr McFarland said.

Segregation was apparent in classrooms, with group discussions and teamwork being affected by the two camps tending to stick within their familiar groups, he said.

Mixing between groups in the classroom sometimes prompted complaints from both sides: international students complained they were being marginalised, while domestic students said poor language skills were adversely affecting group progress, he said.

Student associations - underfunded because of voluntary student unionism - could no longer afford to organise sufficient events to encourage social and cultural mixing.

Professor Marginson said local disengagement was not being tackled and international students were not being made use of as a bridge to Asia.

"We're not helping local students become more Asia-focused and more competent culturally. I think it's a real tension … there's no sign that backlash or resentment is occurring, but I think there's potential for that. It's a bit scary."

Professor Marginson said internationalisation of higher education was supposed to enrich universities by helping staff, students and institutions create strong cultural and intellectual links with other countries, as well as bring in much-needed revenue. But it did not appear to be meeting its aim.

Cuts in federal funding have forced universities to seek revenue from other sources, including international students. Meanwhile, growth in domestic students has slowed, while international student numbers have rocketed to 370,000.

International education is a $12.5 billion industry. In 2006, 65% of overseas students were from Asia.

Eric Pang, president of the National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia, said international students were not provided with a strong welfare system and were forced to rely on their peers for help and support, yet at the same time they were being accused of failing to integrate.

He said many overseas students had told the committee: "There's not much international students can learn from Australia in terms of culture or … English. After all, the standard of English of Australian students isn't high."

Professor Richard Larkins, chairman of the peak universities body Universities Australia, said despite a recent slowdown in the growth of foreign enrolment, "there is fragility about our sector in relation to its high dependence on income from international students".

[Collin Li]

I got annoyed at this international kid once, for using the mailing lists at university to respond to some guy with the remark: "aussie bullies."

I was annoyed, because why drag race into it for? He claimed, however, that all he was doing was including facts (pointing out that he was an "aussie"), rather than being racist.

[sheepz]

I reckon it can't all be blamed on the 'aussies'. I know many international students who keep amongst themselves anyway because they are shy and are afraid of speaking English to aussies for fear of getting laughed at or not being able to understand what the aussies are saying...

[brendan]

lol are we gonna see brawls at uni now?

Now that domestic undergrad full-fee places are banned, universities will be even more aggressive in recruiting more international fee-paying students

[brendan]

AS THE "expert" quoted in the front page story on international students ("Experts warn of campus ghettos", The Age, 23/7), I am deeply disturbed at the way the issue was handled by the paper. In briefing The Age, I said that there was no visible tension between international and local students, but the two populations are largely separated and there is potential for backlash and resentment down the track if we don't draw local students into internationalisation. Yet the headline describes "ghettos" and "resentment" as if these are established facts.

The article begins with a "widening gulf" between international and local students, without substantive evidence. In some editions of the paper, the headline refers to "experts" in support. The article more accurately reports me (the sole expert cited) as saying that there is no problem, just a potential problem!

This separation between student groups is endemic to English-speaking education. But we can do better in Melbourne than the United States and UK. Claiming there is a racialised conflict that does not exist can only take us backward.
Simon Marginson, professor of higher education, University of Melbourne


The Age is now just as bad any other tabloid, in terms of sensationalist reporting without the backing of any substantive evidence.

[brendan]

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/fees-drive-the-cultural-divide-that-splits-our-universities-20080724-3kh8.html?page=-1

[costargh]

In reference to the link above provided by Brendan,

Perfect example of sensationalism, even if it an 'opinion' piece.

Opening sentence, OUR universities are in crisis

Quote by expert," ...it's no wonder the system is, to use Professor Richard Larkins' word, "fragile" "

fragile does not equal crisis. Stupid journalists. Don't use expert opinion if you are going to twist their words to try justify your own contention.

[enwiabe]

Yeah at Monash there is definite segregation, like there are areas which are international student hubs. But there's no animosity whatsoever. Any rational person would LOVE international students because they pretty much pay for your degree so you don't pay an arm and a leg like they do. I <3 international students

[costargh]

LOL omgosh.

[brendan]

thats a very good point actually. a lot of the cross-subsidisation also happens between courses. you have the revenue from the more popular courses like commerce and mangement cross-subsidising stuff like "German Humour"

[brendan]

Stereotypes tell us nothing in uni debate
Simon Marginson
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/stereotypes-tell-us-nothing-in-uni-debate-20080727-3lp4.html?page=-1

[bubble sunglasses]

thats a very good point actually. a lot of the cross-subsidisation also happens between courses. you have the revenue from the more popular courses like commerce and mangement cross-subsidising stuff like "German Humour"

 Are you implying such "cross-subsidising" is adverse?

[brendan]

thats a very good point actually. a lot of the cross-subsidisation also happens between courses. you have the revenue from the more popular courses like commerce and mangement cross-subsidising stuff like "German Humour"

 Are you implying such "cross-subsidising" is adverse?

If i was university management i would look very closely as to why it would be happening.

[brendan]

Adelaide urged to eradicate student divide
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24880960-12332,00.html