“at its peak in 2007-2008 netted an estimated $13.7 billion”

When will academics stop giving the public misinformation?

Figures such as $13.7 billion are the estimated amounts spent by foreign students while in the country.

It is NOT what they bring into the country, it is what they spend in the country.

If a foregin student works while in the country (and many do) and then they spend the money they earn, this is added into the figure that makes up $13.7 billion.

If an Australian student works and earns money, and then spends that money in Australia, then it should be added to the $13.7 billion as well.

It is the same type of money.

Is there any information from an academic in a so-called Australian university that can be relied upon.

Australian Universities increasingly minimise input to students, largely driven by budget. Students spend more time in a class room being spoken to and less in a ‘laboratory’ doing. The Cavendish Laboratories in Rutherford’s time had students in laboratories ‘doing’ physics and learning from physicists for the majority of their time. Which produces excellence?

Given relatively fewer academics and increasing teaching time there is also less contact between the needs of society/industry and University staff. The work undertaken at MIT and institutions such as that is directly addressing the concerns of the world around them and has substantial laboratory time. Who gets support and attracts students?

Australian institutions are less attractive propositions to overseas students as a result. A better education of more direct relevance can be had in other countries than here. The export of education is declining because what we offer is not of the same standards as had elsewhere.

Publications are being directed to A class journals, theoretical pieces lacking application. Academics will concentrate on theory and application will go by the board. How relevant are these to students and why should they support such institutions?

Otokonoko, reference to specialisation and the Melbourne College of Divinity sets a model that needs to be considered. In the Netherlands the government decided Wageningen was to be the only University offering agriculture – it has critical mass to provide stimulating courses and innovative research.

Australia’s education sector principally exists to educate Australian students. There are areas such as photovoltaics at UNSW where finding an Australian student is problematical. Dependency on overseas students therefore icnreases. Universities are ‘drunk’ on fees.

Houellebecq, it is a crisis because it threatens University survival. Fat is anathema in the modern world, yet fat in the system allows survival.

Cronus,

You raise an interesting point about the nature of study - being taught physics rather than doing physics. Among my many university dalliances, I did a semester of biotechnology. I was bored out of my mind, with the bulk of contact time spent in lecture theatres rather than actually engaging with science. We learnt the basics we had already covered in high school (it was expected that participants had studied chemistry and maths, but all else was optional), and we had much less hands-on time. I don't know if this has changed - that was 2001.

Interestingly, a study in the mid 90s (Caiger et al, 1994) - I can find the reference in my notes, but not the article itself - found that the exact opposite was the problem, especially for Asian students. The trend towards 'constructing' knowledge was problematic for people who had paid a lot of money to come to Australia and be taught by experts. They found themselves constructing their own knowledge, making mistakes, hopefully learning from their mistakes and wondering if the 'experts' really were all that they claimed to be. Have we shifted too far in the other direction? Do we have a shortage of experts?

Part of me always wonders if many of the international students in Australian universities are here not because of the high standard of our tertiary education sector, but because our admission requirements are less stringent or our degrees are easier. I always thought it was a bit of a con that the BEd degree I studied was sold exclusively to overseas students as an MTeach, to cater for demands in other countries that teachers have Masters degrees. In that case, it was a Master in name but a Bachelor in nature.

Australia’s education sector principally exists to educate Australian students. There are areas such as photovoltaics at UNSW where finding an Australian student is problematical. Dependency on overseas students therefore icnreases. Universities are ‘drunk’ on fees.......and there you have it in a nutshell. Making future Australian investments, beg, borrow and steal, just to make it through? Your putting the TOP shelf, the new leaders, the one,s that will carry the most, pay! More and more over-sea,s people will be recruited, while more Australians students miss-out on what should be there's.

Makes you wonder what they mean by multicultural, doesn't it.

PAYING FOR EDUCATION!.........lol......The Australian Government may as well shoot themselves in the foot while there at it.

And here,s a bigger laugh.....Government State ruined, I mean ran schools:) Yes, and isnt that the biggest load of bullsh!t:)

State schools were fully funded by the government, now my children dont get an education, and there asking me to handed out 1000 dollars....lol...for what? ( and thanks me, I do the rest of the home-schooling.) The poor UNI people....some have to work, study, and pass.....and they haven't even see the HEX/LIVING=PLUS/BILLS that incurs..........and you haven't even got a job yet...lol....thats just amazing!

Imagine! If the best of the best, got the best.....now! wouldn't that be something.

LEA

I recall a few years ago that some vice chancellor was on $640,00 a year and he thought it wasn't enough.. How much do some of the other hangers-on get ? Let's get some quality service out of these people before handing them the big cheques. The overseas students must be cackling themselves when see the atrocious spelling in the wider community of this Nation.
Why, even Kellogg's have ceased to put degrees in with their cornflakes.

Why would you go to a uni which predominantly preaches a CO2 global warming tax, Now proven to be a scam ?