Hi Nairbe :) I might just take you up on that ... it's not easy to find people with the 'testicles' to front up and put their lives on the line. You can vid from a save distance mate :) but if I do it.. I'll see if I can find someone closer first.. but cheers anyhow.

Dear Watermelon..(I mean CJ :)
What do Union activities have to do with to topic ?

Well..they are just another segment of the communities whic Unions try to politicize. Hence they are relevant to the overall 'overseas students' thing.

Bugsy says:

"because I don't see any of you blowhards advocating more core funding in the federal and state budgets for research and teaching in the Tertiary education sector."

Fair point Bugsy.. but it might be deeper than you imagine?

Why would the government cut funding to Universities?
-Which side of politics initiated this?
-Did the 'other' side of politics make any substantial change ?
-If not..why not?

Could it be that we are simply spending more than we earn ? Have been for too long and now that we've sold off just about everything we can for short term debt servicing.... nothing more to sell to maintain our over consuming lifestyle which of course includes 'higher education'.....

So.. I'd be happy to have a debate about the real causes of such budget cuts.. and if you have any information about it.. by all means share it with us.

I imagine that they weighed up like this "Left hand....Public health"..right hand... "Higher Education"...hmmm... then made a decision they believed would keep them in power...

The plain simple fact is.. we have been, are and will continue to live beyond our means until the money and credit runs out.

When that point is reached.. we will see *many disturbing things* happen..most of which I've alluded to over the years

PS..watch your grammar.. CJ will be on your case :) 6th line of ur last post.

So you acknowledge that you don't have a clue about the topic, Boazy? Par for the course, I'm afraid.

Why did you call me a "Watermelon"? I didn't say anything at all in my only other comment in this thread that could be construed as remotely "green" or "red".

CJ Morgan,

Yes, I agree with you, there can be a sense of entitlement over passing subjects and also grades received. This situation applying to domestic students too. On the subject of "shonky" providers, I actually wrote warning sumission to the Minister years before the domestic situation or the Uniiversity of Newcastle offshore provider plagiary debacle.

Dear George,

In my 26 June post, I was trying to demonstrate that I am am willing to to apply the same methodology to some aspects of QM, as I do religion. Herei, I a try to be consistent.

The notion of faith as a practised skill is interesting and does fit in with the Huntington Post article to some degree. If one does belie someting that if false in a time when folk generally know no better than I would not call that a delusion. One the other hand, remaining circumscribed might increase the likeihood of confronting reinforcement schedules embedding non-facts.

Perhaps, it is drawing a long bow, but, the willingness to stay put, in one's home, and not trek the marketplace, does have micmic agoraphobia, to the degree believer does not go "outside". Albeit, generally, I would be disinclined to categorise religionists under the DSM IV.

I do reflect on what you cite in leiu of the systematic case. Thanks. However, it would seem logical to consider the existence of God "before" adopting a specific god.

Regarding Bohr's cited statement on the Copenhagen interpretation; on "phenomena", McFadden adds:

"Phenomena are the interaction between quantum objects and measuring devices. No independent relity is attributed to indepenedent quantum objects. There is no such thing as an electron or photon in the absence of measurement - they do not exist. The fundamental units of our existence are not atoms, electrons or photons but phenomena."

As with (alleged) heaven and earth, there is a need to see a demarcation between the real and quasi-real realms.

Please excuse mispost. Unitended.

We have created a minefield and many academics continue to face pressure to pass students who would otherwise fail. When education became a commercial venture, we lost all credibility in becoming the mooted 'clever country'.

One of the issues is lack of English skills not only in regard to International Students but at some universities there are now remedial type English classes for local students because the standard is so low.

How does any student gain entry into a university when they have poor command of the language?

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s1852629.htm

The evidence that education is being dumbed down is all around us.

We made a big mistake when we turned colleges of advanced education into universities. Education is not just about research and academia but about appropriate skills and vocational training - not all of it requiring university status. Tiered education to suit is best IMO.

We are all buying into the aspirational mantra that pervades currently, all which demeans any job or occupation that does not require a Degree or more. This adds to the difficulty in finding young people to do work once considered entry level.

This does not mean we don't aspire to high levels of literacy and numeracy but we should not be fooled into confusing mass access to education (without merit) with being 'educated'.