Higher Edge: Institutions: Publications: Not-So-Foreign©, Volume 8, Issue 19

Not-So-Foreign^©
A Bulletin for International Education Professionals
Volume 8, Issue 20; June 3, 2009

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – Indian storm breaks over Australia
2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - Dubai marketed as “the most exciting city in the desert”
3) OVER THE COUNTER - Economic downturn keeping Vietnamese students at home
4) GLOBE TIPPING – Travel tips coming to an iPhone near you

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – Indian storm breaks over Australia

Once just a trickle of stories coming out of Australia, it has now become a torrent of bad news flooding the Indian media with stories and claims of racism and violence against Indian students in Australia.

On Sunday, 5,000 people marched in Melbourne to protest as many as 70 Indian students attacked in the past year alone, being beaten, robbed, hospitalized and even killed.

India's press, prone to sensationalizing stories in the hyper-competitive media market, is now feeding a frenzy of front page news and television special reports.

The attacks in Australia, branded “curry bashing,” have elicited requests for action from India's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Australian police began a program earlier this year advising Indian students to keep a low profile, but till now no concrete action has been taken to quell the growing violence.

This past weekend, Indian icon the Bollywood film super star Amitabh Bachchan raised his deep and powerful voice to the displeasure in India by turning down an honourary degree from the Queensland University of Technology. Bachchan was to be honoured in July, but claimed his conscience did not allow him to accept at this time. As some Indian parents have begun calling their children home, the pressure is intensifying on Australian institutions and government to shift public opinion away from the fear mongering.

Australia's international education sector is the country's third largest export market. It employs tens of thousands and brings in an estimated 15 billion dollars annually to the country. Approximately 90,000 Indians study in Australia and that valuable revenue base is threatened by the current crisis of confidence among Indians as to whether they are safe or welcomed in Australia.

Source: “Racist attacks force snub by Bollywood great,” The Age, 1 June 2009.

“Indians told to keep low profile,” The Age, 19 February 2009.

“Shaken Gujarati students returning from Australia,” Times of India, 1 June 2009.

“Worried parents call student back from Aus,” Times of India, 1 June 2009.

2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - Dubai marketed as “the most exciting city in the desert”

Very few students from the West travel to, or perceive the UAE as a place for higher education. This is a fact and perception the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing aims to change.

The division is pairing up with the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) to entice students from Australia to come to the UAE to experience its rich history while getting a world class education. UOWD has been active in Dubai for a decade and is a model of a successful overseas branch campus.

UOWD recently launched its new six-month credit course where students can come to learn about doing business in the Arab world, study introductory Arabic language courses, and help combat stereotypes surrounding life in the Middle East.

Currently there are 20,000 students from the Middle East studying in Australia and only 90 Australians studying in the UAE. Both the UAE and Australian governments are working to balance the numbers.

While the program's current focus is on Australian students, it is open to students from around the globe.

Source: “Dubai-based university plans to attract Western students,” The Nation (via gulfnews), 25 May 2009.

“University Launches Programme to Attract Foreign Students,” Kaleej Times, 26 May 2009.

3) OVER THE COUNTER - Economic downturn keeping Vietnamese students at home

A combination of failing finances on the home front and reduced international student aid abroad has caused many Vietnamese families to change the plans they made for their children's education.

Parents as recently as three years ago planned on sending their children abroad without giving too much thought to tuition costs.

As the economy turned, parents had their children seek out scholarships at major US and UK institutions. However, now even gifted students may come graduate with a fist full of acceptances but hardly any offers of financial aid.

Many students have begun studies in Vientamese bridge programs, hoping to finish their degrees abroad at the universities their home schools are twinned with. Others are only going as far as South Korea and Singapore for their out-of-country educations.

The economic downturn has taken its toll not only on the dreams of the young Vietnamese students, but the coffers and cultures of the abroad institutions who would have loved to have had them on their campuses.

Source: “Economic crisis makes overseas study tougher,” Vietnam Net, 26 May 2009.

4) GLOBE TIPPING - Travel tips coming to an iPhone near you

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