Australian education on top - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Business Asia, August, 2001 by Nadia Cameron

Education is one of Australia's boom exports, and is tipped to keep growing well into the new century. NADIA CAMERON explores this active service industry.

AUSTRALIA HAS experienced a record increase in the number of student visas issued in 2000/2001, attracting over 146,000 overseas students to its shores and promising to deliver yet another successful year to Australia's education industry.

An influx of students from Asia and the United States were the primary sources of the increase, with students from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia making up the most substantial portion of Australia's offshore visa grant recipients.

The latest figures, released by the Federal Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs last month, represents a 23 per cent leap in total visa grant numbers over 1999/2000, which was an additional nine per cent up from figures of the same period the year before. Offshore visas for the undergraduate sector showed the most apparent growth, with visa grants rising by 47 per cent to 38,555.

The People's Republic of China topped the list with the largest number of offshore student visa grants, totalling 8886. This represented an increase of 46 per cent over 1999/2000. Hong Kong and the United States also had significant growth, increasing by 26 per cent and 16 per cent respectively. Top countries for onshore visas included the Republic of Korea (11,721), Indonesia (7343) and China (6134).

According to Professor Fazal Rizvi, pro vice chancellor (International) at one of Australia's premier international education institutions RMIT, there are a number of reasons why Australia's visa numbers have increased.

"The field of international education in Australia is maturing -- the quality level of Australian education is also better known," he said. "We're starting to get second generation education students, who have had relatives or even parents educated in Australia 15 years ago.

"Also, Australia has a competitive advantage over the US and the UK and even Canada, because of the low Australian dollar. It's closer, safer and is recognised as having an equal level of education -- so students think why pay twice as much?"

FAST MOVERS

Onshore Student Visa Grants by citizenships 2000/2001,
Top 15 countries

Rank   Citizenship                 1998/1999   1999/2000   2000/2001

 1     Republic of Korea             6034        6159        11721
 2     Indonesia                     9226        6736         7343
 3     Peoples Republic of China     2719        3887         6134
 4     Japan                         4353        3973         4701
 5     Thailand                      2836        2591         3616
 6     India                         2707        2526         3343
 7     HKSAR of the PRC              2721        1317         2819
 8     Taiwan                        2458        2038         2463
 9     Malaysia                      2388        1826         1914
 10    Vietnam                       1726        1285         1322
 11    Singapore                     1454        1210         1214
 12    Sri Lanka                     1009         790         1001
 13    United Kingdom                1120         952          923
 14    Bangladesh                     398         332          767
 15    Brazil                         467         323          761

Offshore Student Visa Grants By Citizenship 2000/2001,
Top 15 countries

Rank   Citizenship                 1998/1999   1999/2000   2000/2001

 1     Peoples Republic of China     3583        6079        8886
 2     United States                 4894        6407        7426
 3     Malaysia                      4771        5900        6236
 4     Indonesia                     9113        5439        6070
 5     HKSAR of the PRC              3467        4544        5740
 6     Japan                         4915        4438        5264
 7     Thailand                      2661        3668        4439
 8     Republic of Korea             3056        3390        4402
 9     Singapore                     4006        4455        4108
 10    India                         4517        4310        3512
 11    Taiwan                        2214        2164        2245
 12    Norway                        1154        1757        1918
 13    Brazil                         951        1163        1766
 14    Germany                       1241        1521        1755
 15    Sweden                        1163        1510        1462

IDP's executive general manager Dorothy Davis believes the increase in visa numbers has been triggered by the overall attractiveness of Australia to the international students market.

For Asian students, Australia is not only within close proximity, but also provides a friendly environment, the same quality of education in English as the UK and the US but at a lower cost, and strong professional training and workforce, she said. For European students, Australia also offers an opportunity to face new personal experiences in a pleasant, friendly climate.