The Group of Eight (Go8) has warned that a target of 10 Australian universities in the world top 100 by 2025 is a difficult task, reported The Canberra Times. The target was outlined in the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper released over the weekend along with a range of other measures designed to take advantage of burgeoning Asian economies.
The Go8's World University Rankings: ambiguous signals paper released today, however, has warned that such a target may be difficult to reach. In the recent QS World University Rankings, Australia saw seven of its universities ranked in the top 100. While remaining the third most represented country, the 2012 rankings saw one less Australian university in the top 100 (For more info, please see Issue 19 of the IEU).
The QS World University Rankings was Australia's best performance during the rankings season. On the Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Times Higher Education-Thomson Reuters, Australia had five universities in the top 100 (University of Melbourne, ANU, University of Sydney, The University of Queensland and University of Western Australia).
The paper highlights the ambiguous nature of the ranking systems, which only cover certain parts of a university's activities. The paper also questions using world university rankings as a launching pad for public policy.
Mike Teece, Go8 policy director: ''It is hard to see Australia getting 10 universities into the top 100 under current policy settings.”
The rise of Asian universities in world rankings will also increase the difficulty of Australian universities significantly improving upon their current positions, as competition for the top spots heats up. As Terence Kealey, vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, warned, "it's easier to catch up than to be a pioneer." (For more information, please see Issue 20 of the IEU)
Sky News reported that the New South Wales Government has announced travel concessions will be made available to international students. Travel concessions have been a hot topic for many international student advocacy groups, such as the Council of International Students Australia (CISA), for some time.
The decision comes after the release of the NSW Government's International Education and Research Taskforce report yesterday. The report was commissioned last year to assess ways of boosting the state's multi-million dollar higher education export industry, which has slumped since the global financial crisis.
Among its findings, the report found that the high cost of living was causing international students to live further and further away from their college. A follow-on effect of this, many students were opting to walk greater distances to save money, rather than paying to take public transport, putting them at risk of theft or assault.
Acting NSW Premier, Andrew Stoner: “Safety is the number one concern for parents ... and it's important we address the total package for life as an international student here in NSW.”
The decision leaves Victoria as the only Australian state that does not offer travel concession to international students.
In Issue 20 of the IEU, we highlighted concerns within the industry that the upcoming post-study work rights may be ineffectual if jobs aren't available for international students. As part of this, we asked for your opinion on the post-study work rights, specifically if you believed they would aid in the recruitment of students to Australia.
The survey is still open and can be completed here.
Cricket's popularity is growing in US universities thanks to international students, reports Laramie Boomerang.
ICEF Monitor reports on students' growing demand for technology in education.
Students from New Zealand's faked visa applications are claiming they are the victims, according to The New Zealand Herald.
KMXT 100.1 FM reports uncertainty surrounding work visas has caused a decline in the number of foreign students working in Alaskan salmon processing facilities.
Social media may negatively impact a student's university application, reports ICEF Monitor.