In today’s Talking Points: Australia universities see record international student enrolments, Encouraging ESL students lifts the whole cohort, Government financial aid increases from 2016, Majority of International Students in Australia are from China
Australia universities see record international student enrolments
According to statistics released by the Australian Department of Education shows in 2017 approximately 800,000 foreign enrollments, 44% concentrated in tertiary education. Further individual overseas students grew 13% to 624,000, primarily hailing from China. Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said of the data, “Our reputation abroad is in no small part because of how students see Australia as a safe and friendly place to live and study.”
Read more: Times Higher Education
Encouraging ESL students lifts the whole cohort
A recent data report on the national NAPLAN testing website reveals schools who focused on limiting the literacy barriers for ESL in mathematics testing significantly increased their overall scores. This finding is particular relevant to multiple school districts in Australia with a high concentration of ESL, migrant and indigenous students. In practice it means many schools are opting to visually and orally delivering lessons, as a means to lessen vocab gaps inhibiting student progress. Head of the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority, Rob Randall affirmed, “by looking at what individual schools are doing at a local level to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes we can use those learnings to benefit other schools and lift our game across the board.”
Read more: The Guardian
Government financial aid increases from 2016
In 2017, China provided financial support for close to 96 million students, which represents a 5% increase from the previous year. The financial aid program, equated to approximately 188 billion yuan, close to a 12% year-on-year increase. The aid system covers all stages of education – both public and private schools – and students in financial difficulties, ensuring accessibility of education. The increase of national aid mirrors an increase in fiscal support as the number of student’s increases.
Read more: Xinhua
Majority of International Students in Australia are from China
Out of the 600,000 international students who studied last year in Australia, close to 184,512 students (29.5%) of the figure, China represents the lion’s share of this demographic. This generated, according to Universities Australia CEO Belinda Robinson, $30.9 billion Australian dollars. More than this, however, they also brought with them cultural, personal and social value to Australia. Currently, Australia’s international education sector represent the country’s third largest export, and is intrinsically linked to Australia’s trade, political and business connections.
Read more: Xinhua