International Education: The Australian International Education - Coursework Example

International Education Introduction In the past six decades, international education industry has been a fundamental part of both social and economic life of Australia. However, the community has been unaware of its size and impact that the industry has been bringing to the Australian community. Experts suggest that this might be because of the relatively low media profile of this industry. To show the size and the impact of the Australian international education sector, there are a number of headlines as well as measurable figures that stand as evidence. For instance, it is regarded as the fourth largest export industry in Australia. Most of it comprises of the higher education sector. International education is also Victoria’s peak export as well as South Wale’s best export. In addition to that, records show that close to over 20 percent of the population of the Australian universities are overseas students. This paper will outline how Australia will be able to develop a sustainable, national competitive advantage as well as give recommendations to be adopted to improve the Australian international education (Burke 2006). Starting with the advantages of the international education in Australia, the benefits are many, and not all of them can be put into quantity. For instance, the international education industry in Australia is helping in the facilitation of international engagement. The sector has been the helping the country in its relationship with other nations. Through this, it fosters and environment that tends to empower students to become compassionate leaders, lifelong scholars as well as global citizens. International education also enhances global perspectives as well as improved professional links. The sector has also been doing a lot to increase opportunities for business, research, cultural and social programs. All these advantages have been resulting to another. Both Australia’s profile, as well as its global standing, has been drastically rising. International education industry can be said to be an investment that Australian government, as well as some private bodies, have made. They benefit the government by exporting their services overseas. The services are sold to the international students who are from other countries out of Australia. Therefore, the Australian government has a great role to play in order to ensure that it realizes the most out of this industry. There are a number of industry strategies as well as government policies that can be put in place to harvest a lot more while at the same time improving Australia’s position in this industry (Choi et al 2012). The fist recommendation would be to develop quality education that is unmatched. The governments in association with this industry can ensure that the services of the industry are of great quality. Most international students weigh the quality of education before any other factor. Top quality is what will lure them to Australia and not to other countries. Quality is a significant factor that can keep Australia’s international education industry in the top position (Weiss and Ford 2011). International education industry brings the Australian government a lot of revenues. Just like a commercial taxi, it needs regular mechanical service for proper functioning. This is called maintenance. To sustain this industry in Australia, regular maintenance needs to be in place. Business experts also argue that the only way to fetch more money is by using more money. Therefore, the Australian government needs to invest more in the international education industry in order to earn more income as well as improve and develop the industry in the country. The government can invest by developing more international learning institutions as well as by training and employing more professionals in these international institutions. Many individuals are still unaware of the quality international education in Australia. The government in close coordination with these institutions should launch a global marketing campaign to create awareness of these institutions. Marketing tools such as publicity, as well as advertising, can be done globally in order to improve the current Australia’s position in the education industry (Weiss and Ford 2011). Publicity and marketing are not just enough. For the past there decades, there has been a rapid growth in the international education industry of Australia. As a result of these, many issues have emerged. The students’ population has been doubling every four to five years. The number has seemed to be unsustainable for the Australian government as well as these education industries. A lot of pressure is currently mounting on social infrastructure like accommodation as well as transport. As a result, international students in Australia have articulated their concerns. The Australian government needs to do a lot more to improve the students’ experience in the country. The government should work to ensure it realizes a sustainable high-quality international education sector. The Australian government also needs to strengthen the regulatory, as well as quality frameworks of the country’s education. According to the Australian government, there are a number of future initiatives and priorities that it plans to put in place to make the situation better. Australia is now showing commitment to working closely with its international students to try and address all the issues of concern. Some of these concerns are the security, accommodation and local community engagement. The government is as well trying to come up with an international roundtable that gives students an opportunity to address directly and engage all legislators and policy makers (Hassam 2007). Among the main agendas that the Australian government plans as future initiatives and priority is the review of the international students’ visa program. The program will enable only genuine international students to take part in the study. The program also intends to facilitate a continued strength, as well as comprehensiveness of the Australian international education industry, while at the same time ensuring that necessary integrity measure are put in play. However, the integrity of the international students’ visa program has faced great challenge in the past few years. It has been challenged by the promotion of education courses in Australia as a corridor for permanent migration. The message of the Australian government is clear that skilled migration need to be driven by skill needs of the education industry and employers. Therefore, international students will not come to Australia to access the labor market in Australia while studying or even gain permanent residence, but for high standard education and a handsomely rewarding study experience (Gribble and Blackmore 2012). Another future initiative and priority is the international education integrity measures. A number of issues are cropping in the international education that may only be best addressed at an international level. Apart from the domestic initiatives, the government of Australia is also planning to work with the major international partners in the international language industry. One area that needs early attention is the promotion of best practices for individuals who take part in the recruitment of the international students. The worldwide reputation of international education is always judged by the suggestions, claims and comments made on universities, colleges and other institutions of learning by the education agents and consultants (Gribble and Blackmore 2012). Currently, the Australian international education has been serving as a public diplomacy. This has been essential in engaging as well as influencing the public audience in ways that promote Australian foreign policy and the national interests. The current multidimensional and the consistently increasing globalized nature of the international education tends to present great opportunity for significant exchange for interactions and with students. Great experiences of student mobility as well as the development of intellectual, social and commercial relationships is able to build the nation’s repute hence enhancing the ability of the nation to take part in and influence regional and global outcomes. Ultimately, this is the essence of soft power. Broadly, soft power can be defined as the influence and attractiveness that any nation acquires whether others are attracted by its ideas and culture. This is a phrase that has been frequently appearing in Australian policy reports as well as articles. Even though Australia has been making considerable financial gains in the international education industry, it has not realized the soft power’s natural potential in the depth of interaction, relationships and accomplishments that come with it especially is Asia where Australia is still the most active in international education. Generally, soft power has great benefits in identifying international education as a public diplomacy (Byrne and Hall 2013) Conclusion Just as in many other countries, international education industry is a powerful and a vibrant sector in Australia. Despite the short-term fluctuations, it will keep developing as well as prospering at a sustainable rate. For it to keep developing at the current pace, the Australian government needs to ensure that it protects the sector against individuals who are out to exploit international education as a device to avoid both migration and the labor and to exploit vulnerable international students. Just like any other investment for the Australian government, international education in Australia needs marketing and publicity. This will help enhance the soft power the international education has in Australia. However, a lot also need to be done to improve the conditions and to address the concerns that the international students are facing in Australia. Issues like safety, accommodation, transportation and other relevant infrastructure should be made available to the international students. Additionally, the quality of services provided in the Australian international education institutions should also be elevated to strengthen the soft power and build a much more concrete positive repute. By doing all these, the Australian government will not only gain financially, but also build a sustainable competitive advantage in the international education industry. Other benefits that come with the development of this industry include helping in the facilitation of international engagement, fostering of an environment that tends to empower students to become compassionate leaders, lifelong scholars as well as global citizens. It also enhances global perspectives as well as improved professional links. Finally, it increases opportunities for business, research, cultural and social programs. References Bianchi C. (2013), Satisfiers and dissatisfiers for international students of higher education: an exploratory study in Australia. 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