One thing I do a lot of these days is scrutinize the websites of educational institutions across the globe. My focus is on the websites of institutions that enrol international students.
In my web travels I think I may have identified an interesting pattern.
It seems to me that the websites of the majority of institutions in both Australia and the UK have a separate section, usually with a clear link on the home page, dedicated specifically to prospective international students. On the other hand very few US institutions seem to take the same approach. If there is information specifically for international students it is generally not very easy to find from the home page.
Admittedly I have not crunched any numbers on this so it is very much a gut feel based on the many sites I have visited.
Am I right about this, or have I got it totally wrong?
Showing posts with label international education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international education. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Canada has no idea in India
If a recent story in the Toronto Star is anything to go by Canada needs to take a long hard look at itself when it comes to recruiting Indian students to study in Canada.
Last year just 6,937 Indian students chose to pursue further study in Canada. Just under 97,000 chose Australia.
The reason for this disparity is simple - Australia recognises the value of education as a valuable export industry in its own right, and Canada apparently does not.
Ok so you can't believe everything you read in the press, but if the Star article is even half right, Canada's efforts to market the country's educational institutions fall somewhere between non-existent and "we're thinking about it...it's definitely on our to do list".
The article highlights the contrasting approaches of Australia and Canada when it comes to education marketing in India - the former well funded and professional, and the latter woefully under funded and half hearted.
The Australia/Canada link is interesting. The economies of the two countries are quite similar, with both traditionally reliant on raw materials and agriculture as the mainstays of their export industries. It is interesting then that the approaches to international education are so different. International education is now the third largest export industry in Australia (behind iron ore and coal) and is worth over $14bn. That's a lot of dough, especially in the midst of a global financial crisis. It would rank nowhere near as high on Canada's list of exports.
The Toronto Star article focuses on universities and largely ignores the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Australia's success in attracting VET students makes the situation look even worse for Canada. In Australia in the 12 months to December 2008 the VET sector ranked first by volume of commencements and second by volume of enrolments. VET was the fastest growing sector in both enrolments (46.4%) and commencements (46.1%). For both measures, this was the highest rate of growth in any sector. 82.9% of VET enrolments came from Asia and this region experienced growth of 51.5%. The three largest markets in this sector by volume of enrolments were India (52,381), China (25,431) and Nepal (12,813).
Canada should lift its game in India for its own sake. Until it does Australia will continue to reap the benefits.
Last year just 6,937 Indian students chose to pursue further study in Canada. Just under 97,000 chose Australia.
The reason for this disparity is simple - Australia recognises the value of education as a valuable export industry in its own right, and Canada apparently does not.
Ok so you can't believe everything you read in the press, but if the Star article is even half right, Canada's efforts to market the country's educational institutions fall somewhere between non-existent and "we're thinking about it...it's definitely on our to do list".
The article highlights the contrasting approaches of Australia and Canada when it comes to education marketing in India - the former well funded and professional, and the latter woefully under funded and half hearted.
The Australia/Canada link is interesting. The economies of the two countries are quite similar, with both traditionally reliant on raw materials and agriculture as the mainstays of their export industries. It is interesting then that the approaches to international education are so different. International education is now the third largest export industry in Australia (behind iron ore and coal) and is worth over $14bn. That's a lot of dough, especially in the midst of a global financial crisis. It would rank nowhere near as high on Canada's list of exports.
The Toronto Star article focuses on universities and largely ignores the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Australia's success in attracting VET students makes the situation look even worse for Canada. In Australia in the 12 months to December 2008 the VET sector ranked first by volume of commencements and second by volume of enrolments. VET was the fastest growing sector in both enrolments (46.4%) and commencements (46.1%). For both measures, this was the highest rate of growth in any sector. 82.9% of VET enrolments came from Asia and this region experienced growth of 51.5%. The three largest markets in this sector by volume of enrolments were India (52,381), China (25,431) and Nepal (12,813).
Canada should lift its game in India for its own sake. Until it does Australia will continue to reap the benefits.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Australia: College fraud crisis?
We have been following the story of alleged illegal activity by education and training providers in Australia.
International students are at the centre of the controversy. Sometimes they are victims - charged exorbitant fees by institutions for subject results, or for failing to submit assignments. In other instances it is alleged that students are complicit in the wrong doing, paying dishonest operators to obtain fraudulent visa credentials.
There are differing views on the extent of the problem in Australia, but it appears that pressure is mounting on the Australian Government to take decisive action on the matter - see full story
The Government seems to be trying to play down the issue. That is all very well, and it may be that the problem is not as significant as the media reports make out. Even so, if momentum in the media continues to build on this issue so will the public perception that there is a problem. Negative perceptions of the integrity of the Australian education system is something that the Government definitely does not want, especially considering that the provision of education to overseas students is the country's third largest export industry.
Australia is not alone with this problem. Coincidentally a story in the Times Online today outlines similar visa fraud problems in the UK and notes that "bogus colleges set up to help foreign workers to enter Britain illegally have long been considered the biggest loophole in British immigration controls" - see full story
It is vitally important that Governments get this kind of activity under control, both to protect international students, and to safeguard their country's international reputation as a high quality education market.
International students are at the centre of the controversy. Sometimes they are victims - charged exorbitant fees by institutions for subject results, or for failing to submit assignments. In other instances it is alleged that students are complicit in the wrong doing, paying dishonest operators to obtain fraudulent visa credentials.
There are differing views on the extent of the problem in Australia, but it appears that pressure is mounting on the Australian Government to take decisive action on the matter - see full story
The Government seems to be trying to play down the issue. That is all very well, and it may be that the problem is not as significant as the media reports make out. Even so, if momentum in the media continues to build on this issue so will the public perception that there is a problem. Negative perceptions of the integrity of the Australian education system is something that the Government definitely does not want, especially considering that the provision of education to overseas students is the country's third largest export industry.
Australia is not alone with this problem. Coincidentally a story in the Times Online today outlines similar visa fraud problems in the UK and notes that "bogus colleges set up to help foreign workers to enter Britain illegally have long been considered the biggest loophole in British immigration controls" - see full story
It is vitally important that Governments get this kind of activity under control, both to protect international students, and to safeguard their country's international reputation as a high quality education market.
Friday, 27 March 2009
You Tube EDU launches
You Tube has just launched You Tube EDU which is their way of collecting and making it easier for You Tube users to access educational content on the site.
For more info check out the TechCrunch story.
Institutions have to apply to You Tube to get their channels listed on You Tube EDU. At this stage they are only accepting "qualifying two- and four-year degree granting public and private colleges and universities" (see sign up page)
The launch of You Tube EDU is an important development for any institution which already has, or is considering implementing, an internet video marketing strategy.
For more info check out the TechCrunch story.
Institutions have to apply to You Tube to get their channels listed on You Tube EDU. At this stage they are only accepting "qualifying two- and four-year degree granting public and private colleges and universities" (see sign up page)
The launch of You Tube EDU is an important development for any institution which already has, or is considering implementing, an internet video marketing strategy.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Singapore rising
The number of international students in Singapore has risen 50% in the last five years. In 2008 there were 97,000 international students in Singapore, up from 86,000 in 2007.
This strong growth is a further indicator that emerging international education markets like Singapore and Malaysia continue to make significant gains in grabbing a piece of the international student pie.
These emerging markets may also benefit from the global financial crisis, with students in Asia and India looking for more affordable education options.
It will be interesting to see if the strong growth trend continues.
This strong growth is a further indicator that emerging international education markets like Singapore and Malaysia continue to make significant gains in grabbing a piece of the international student pie.
These emerging markets may also benefit from the global financial crisis, with students in Asia and India looking for more affordable education options.
It will be interesting to see if the strong growth trend continues.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Financial Crisis cuts international student numbers
Within one day of each other Australian and Canadian newspapers have run stories on the drop in international student numbers caused by the global financial crisis.
On 19 January The Australian reported that most Australian institutions are seeing an increase in student deferrals and are anticipating a drop off in international students numbers. The national peak body for English language colleges, English Australia, confirmed a decline in enrollments from Asian markets, with Japanese and Korean markets leading the fall.
On 20 January the Vancouver Sun reported a 5-7% drop in international student enrollments in B.C schools, with Korea leading the decline.
Like most industries, international education is in uncharted waters when it comes to the impact of the financial crisis. The prospect for long term market growth remain strong, but the short term effects of the current crisis will probably only become apparent over the course of 2009.
On 19 January The Australian reported that most Australian institutions are seeing an increase in student deferrals and are anticipating a drop off in international students numbers. The national peak body for English language colleges, English Australia, confirmed a decline in enrollments from Asian markets, with Japanese and Korean markets leading the fall.
On 20 January the Vancouver Sun reported a 5-7% drop in international student enrollments in B.C schools, with Korea leading the decline.
Like most industries, international education is in uncharted waters when it comes to the impact of the financial crisis. The prospect for long term market growth remain strong, but the short term effects of the current crisis will probably only become apparent over the course of 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
