campusreview . com . au
international education the potential to meet Australian entry requirements . But there are many other countries not too far behind that are excellent targets .
To further narrow then to Nigeria – the world ’ s largest youth population and an excellent target for Australia , being also in the southern hemisphere and Perth being one of the largest international student hubs reasonably close by . Nigeria , as a former British colony , has a recruitment pattern that has been forged by the British Council . This is true in other African countries that are former British colonies , such as Kenya ( another terrific target ). There are established flows of students between the UK and Nigerian schools and universities . Australia has been the international star of recruitment using the traditional methods of agents , exhibitions and partnering with universities . These methods are required to seed influence and disrupt existing student flows to other receiving countries .
The risks are higher – agents carry significantly higher risks and I have had an agent abscond with all of that semester ’ s student deposits so he could pay for his father ’ s knee operation . He wrote a lovely letter apologising to the students – but still , it ’ s a risk . Similarly , the cost of visiting Nigeria safely is much higher . A better solution is in-country staff who monitor agents and represent universities .
I cannot see a much cheaper way of diversification until these markets have become part of a university ’ s ‘ regular ’ list of highperforming course countries . But it means that recruitment
The quality of an education we give is simply not good enough when we have over 90 per cent of students from one country in a subject .
costs have to come down in other areas of the business . All this ecologically unsustainable flying around and staying in 5-star hotels with limos to and from airport lounges in order to recruit students from our large source countries – it ’ s simply unnecessary given the technology available to recruit students more directly . And at a time when an Arts student might be facing a 113 per cent increase in student fees – how can we possibly justify this pre-pandemic form of recruitment ?
As Australian universities begin flying in small numbers of international students , technology must be used to do away with the old factory-style recruitment processes and instead , strategy , data analysis , and careful market seeding for disruption needs to occur if Australian universities are to be free of the risks of overreliance on a small number of countries . ■
Monique Skidmore has been a deputy vice-chancellor international at several Australian universities .
The laTesT news and resources for professionals in The higher educaTion indusTry
Campus Review is Australia ’ s only publication dedicated exclusively to the higher education industry , making it an essential read for those working in the sector .
• Exclusive coverage of higher education news
• 12 issues per year
• Tax-deductible
• Widely-respected industry magazine that consistently portrays the sector accurately
• Written by an independent voice
Please call 02 9936 8666 to find out more .
9