If fewer students from other countries enroll in US colleges and universities this fall due to COVID-19, the effects would be felt well beyond the campus, an expert warns.
The Australian government relies on the temporary graduate visa to attract international students. But these visa recipients are left helpless as they face a loss of financial security.
For every $1 lost in university tuition fees, there is another $1.15 lost in the broader economy. This means loss of university revenue can cost the Australian economy more than $40 billion by 2023.
Helping international students is in Australia’s best interest. Universities rely on them to stay afloat, and in 2018, Australian universities contributed $41 billion to the economy.
Even before COVID-19, 22% of international students often went without food or necessities and almost half depended on paid work to cover the rent. With many of their jobs gone, they’re now desperate.
More than one-in-16 people in New Zealand is a migrant without residence status. For everyone’s sake, to contain COVID-19 we need to ensure those 300,00 people can access health and social services.
Canada’s decisions about its border closures prompt us to reflect on how we should apply measures of social distancing that are not harmful to others and that still protect human dignity.
The University of Sydney took in about A$750 million from international students in 2017. Two-thirds of that – about $500 million – came from international students from China.
Universities have put in place many measures to help international students. But online classes are not a simple solution, and the government could help with the extra money students have to spend.
Australia has never had such a drop in student numbers. Even during the SARS outbreak Australia didn’t implement bans on those travelling from affected countries.
In 2018, domestic numbers for undergraduate courses fell for the first time since 2013 – they will remain stagnant for some years. This and other factors put unis at face financial risk.
Foreign students have become a huge source of income for Australia in general and the universities in particular, but critics are concerned about pressures on the institutions and on standards.
The majority of students from China come to Australia to learn English and be exposed to a different culture. This helps them get a competitive edge over graduates in their home country.
A recent study on the impacts of the 485 visa (which lets international students work temporarily in Australia after graduating) found it attracts many students here. But the outcomes are mixed.
Mental health researchers based at Queen’s University in Canada and Oxford University in the U.K. are helping universities take the lead in developing improved student mental health care.