Engaging with Asia in higher education
Australia’s higher education system is a major export market in particular in Asia. James Guthrie argues that we need to protect this important source of revenue by maintaining and improving the quality of higher education in Australia.
As the largest and most populated continent in the world, Asia is a vast cultural region. It’s also known as a region of contrasts — economically, politically and socially. Engagement with Asia is widely discussed in Australia, and few would argue that meaningful engagement is critical to Australia’s future economic success. But while big statements about the importance of fostering relationships with our Asian neighbours are made and our politicians claim that the ‘Asian Century’ is upon us, little debate of substance appears in the public arena to guide Australia in grasping the opportunities and overcoming the challenges that may be faced in developing closer ties with the region.
A recent publication by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand focuses on The Accounting Profession’s Engagement with Asia. Edited by Elaine Evans, Roger Burritt and me, the publication provides analysis and context to an issue often addressed in broad terms. It devotes several articles to the role of education and universities in Asia and the importance of international students in Australia in the 21st century.
Australia’s higher education system is a major export market and one that we need to grow and protect in coming years. The majority of international students come to Australia to study management, commerce and accounting, and there are some important challenges facing Australia’s approach to international education, especially business education. In an increasingly globalised world, in which education offered via the internet is expanding exponentially, Australian universities need to become more innovative. Improved support for international students, providing a better campus experience and an exchange rate guarantee for commencing students to protect against possible fluctuations in the Australian dollar are all ideas floated in the publication.
Our focus should also be on educating Australian students about Asia – cultural interchange is equally important for Australian students. Hosting international students in Australia provides an excellent opportunity for Australian students to become more culturally aware, making our campuses cosmopolitan and enriching the experience of all students. It also provides the potential for greater collaboration with universities in Asia and for students to become part of alumni networks that are wide-ranging and global.
In order to build the foundations of successful engagement with Asia we need to grapple with the culture of Asia and its extraordinary growth. For example, in Asia today rates of internet connectivity are very high, infrastructure investment is growing rapidly and there is a strong focus on education – both international education and significant improvements in local educational offerings.
Promoting international education may seem less than important at a time when the higher education system in Australia is on the cusp of massive reform, widely debated in the media and the subject of negotiation by our political leaders.
Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne argues that proposed changes to the Australian higher education system are aimed at providing ‘the best higher education system in the world’. But how do we make Australia’s higher education system the best? One of the established key factors that drives quality education systems is resources. Financial resources in Australian universities are provided by a range of measures; one such measure is international education. With increasing competition from education providers in Asia itself, the most important way to protect this important source of revenue is to maintain and improve the quality of higher education in Australia. We must walk the walk, as well as talk the talk in providing quality education if we are to engage meaningfully with Asia.
James Guthrie AM is a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance in Macquarie University and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioural Economics and Social Systems (BESS). He was Head of Academic Relations at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand from 2008 to 2017.
manikbof
September 9, 2015 at 12:19 pm
online-programs in Asia
Sir, I read it. It is good but in Asia the education system is so old and backdated. Online education programs can change this condition.