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campusreview.com.au
Student mix in
spotlight again
UA praises sector’s achievement in
building ‘third largest export industry’.
A
ustralia’s intake of international
students is grabbing headlines.
The OECD’s recent Education
at a Glance 2019 report found that while
international students made up 14 per cent
of those enrolled in bachelor’s or equivalent
programs, the share of international
students jumped to about a third (32
per cent) for people studying doctoral
programs and 48 per cent for those
undertaking a master’s.
But Universities Australia chief executive
Catriona Jackson said Australia’s percentage
of international students in higher degree
programs is comparable to other popular
study destinations, like the UK.
“Australian higher degree programs are in
demand from the world’s best and brightest
from more than 140 nations — and that’s
because of the quality of education on
offer,” Jackson said.
The 2019 report found Australia took in
10 per cent of all international or foreign
tertiary students in OECD countries.
In a statement, Jackson said that was
an achievement.
“It’s the result of more than six decades
of dedicated work by universities and
governments to build the $37 billion
international education sector into
Australia’s third largest export industry.”
About 50 per cent of the country’s
international students were enrolled in
the field of business, administration and
law. While OECD said this was significantly
above the average (27 per cent), our
intake was below the OECD average
HELP tax popular
Bipartisan support for the new administration
tax on universities.
L
egislation that will see universities taxed for the administration
of students’ access to the Higher Education Loan Program
has passed the lower house with bipartisan support.
for engineering, manufacturing and
construction – 12 per cent compared to 18
per cent.
International students made up 21 per
cent of all students enrolled in tertiary
education in Australia. The average across
OECD countries was 6 per cent.
Outside of those student mix findings,
the report held that the share of 25 to
34-year-olds with a tertiary degree in
Australia increased by 9 percentage points
between 2008 and 2018, reaching 51 per
cent and stretching above the OECD
average of 44 per cent.
“However, this figure conceals a wide
gender gap: 59 per cent of 25 to 34-year-
old women were tertiary-educated
compared to 44 per cent of men in 2018,
a widening of the gap since 2008,” the
report said.
The report also held that the earnings
premium for a tertiary education in Australia
was lower than average across OECD
countries. Full-time tertiary-educated
workers earned 31 per cent more than
those with upper secondary education,
compared to 57 per cent on average across
OECD countries. ■
The changes were expected to save the government
$11.7 million in forward estimates.
Speaking in the lower house, Labor MP Patrick Gorman
said that while his party wouldn’t oppose the bills, he did “feel
uncomfortable” supporting the legislation.
“I spent my life as a student activist campaigning for free
education,” Gorman said.
“I’m a passionate believer that you should have the most
accessible education system possible.”
Gorman said the government should look at ways to put more
money into the university sector, not “just do small cost-recovery
matters here and there”.
The shadow assistant minister for education and training,
Graham Perrett, said that while the charges will have a very small
impact on the higher education sector, the Labor party wouldn’t
tolerate costs being passed onto students.
“We will continue to monitor the operation of the scheme and,
if needed, seek future amendments, changes to regulations or
assurances from the higher education sector.”
Crossbenchers Helen Haines, Andrew Wilkie and Adam Bandt
were the only MPs to vote against the bills.
Liberal Nationals MP David Littleproud said the legislation was
a responsible measure that would help future-proof Australia’s
tertiary education system.
“This is about making sure that we can do it in an affordable way
without having to put an extra $340-odd billion worth of tax on the
Australian people,” he said.
“This is responsible and measured and will ensure the
sustainability of the university sector for generations to come.” ■
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