Report heralds new chapter in Indo-Australia relations

“The growth of an Indian student presence in Australia has

been messy and tragic. But it heralds an important new chapter in Australia’s

place in its region.” (Robin Jeffrey)

Beyond the Lost Decade, released in Sydney on Tuesday by the Australia-India Institute, throws up some interesting facts about the student crisis and the India-Australia relations.

For instance, according to the report, the first violence against Indian students actually came from Lebanese taxi drivers, migrants from a similar background, who found the new Indian arrivals undercutting them. It was an economic battle between two migrant groups and certainly not a racist attack on Indians. The report also indicated how Indian media magnified it as official policy of racial discrimination.

However, the report stresses on the fact that the student crisis may have done India-Australia relations a good turn. “For Canberra, they have served to emphasise just how important the role and experience of the Indian diaspora can be for a host country in terms of forging ties with Indian government and society.Indian perceptions of other countries are often shaped by the conditions and achievements of the Indian community there.”

The report also ends with many valuable recommendations to improve Indo-Australia relations in higher education such as:

• Undertake as an act of goodwill to extend the visas of Indian students who were in Australia on February 8, 2010, and whose pathways towards permanent residency in Australia were affected by changes to immigration regulations in that year. Such extensions or issuance of alternative categories of visa should be granted for at least 12 months from December 31, 2012.

• Extend the post-study work entitlement currently enjoyed by international students at universities to all TAFE institutes and reputable private colleges offering vocational training.

• Expand the study of contemporary India at Australian universities by providing initial funding for twenty B-level university teaching/research positions for the next five years, after which the universities fund the positions.

Students and academic researchers are not permanent migrants: Universities UK

The British government’s immigration policies aimed at preventing student visa abuse at bogus colleges has resulted in decreasing numbers of foreign students, particularly those from countries such as India, Pakistan and China. The country’s higher education sector has been voicing concerns about the long-terms effects of the government’s strict visa regime on a market that is now worth in excess of £5 billion.

Eric Thomas: contentious debate

At a recent debate organized by higher education action group, Universities UK, university chiefs were unanimous about the fact that the image of Britain as a leading international education destination had taken a beating in the light of the government’s visa regulations.

Professor Eric Thomas, President, Universities UK said: “Migration is a significant issue and we are behind the government in stopping student visa abuse. However, there is clearly a conflict between government policy and the higher education sector’s ability to compete in the international market.” Thomas revealed that while UK’s market share in the international education market dropped from 10.8 per cent in 2000 to 9.9 per cent in 2009, biggest competitors have increased their market share. He also added that there have been reductions in student numbers from the Indian subcontinent.

“Students and academic researchers are not permanent migrants,” stated Thomas. “They come here to study and then, by and large, they leave.”

Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor, Aston University revealed that the University had witnessed a 39 per cent decline in applications from India. Birmingham’s local economy (food, clothing and entertainment) had also suffered a loss in revenues. King added that with a change in the post-study work visa regulations, graduates in disciplines such as pharmacy, engineering and business had been affected severely.

Glyn Williams, Head of Migration Policy, Home Office defended his government saying that “student migration is here with us and here to stay and no government is going to ignore that.”

“The more we debate, the more the adverse effect of the government policy will reverberate throughout the world,” Williams added.

Keith Vaz: crusader?

Rt.Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, focused on how public perception of Britain as a popular overseas education destination in important student markets such as India had taken a beating, especially with the recent deaths and Indian media’s attention on these tragic events. Vaz pointed out that Britain was being viewed as an unwelcoming place and many Indian middle-class families, who could afford an overseas education, were choosing to send their children to countries such as the United States instead.

Vaz was openly critical of the UK Border Agency (UKBA), border control agency of the British Government. He appealed to university representatives to lobby with the Foreign Office, the Government’s Business Department and No 10 rather than the Home Office. “These departments understand the benefits that foreign students bring to our economy,” added Vaz, himself a first generation immigrant. Vaz was born in Yemen from parents born in India.

University of Plymouth partners with Kaziranga University

Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2012, the University of Plymouth is another prominent British institution expanding its footprint in India.

Bill Rammell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Plymouth along with a delegation comprising Peter Ingram, Head of International Office and Professor Sanjay Sharma visited India in February 2012 to explore the possibility of collaborating with Indian varsities.  

University of Plymouth: India footprint

A memorandum of understanding has already been signed between Kaziranga University in Assam and the University of Plymouth. The agreement will open the doors for the sharing of learning resources, faculty resources. This will have long-term implications in terms of placements of Indian students in international markets and pave the way for development, research collaborations, and faculty and student exchange programmes.

A delegation from the institution will hold series of meetings with officials in India and work in areas of curriculum development, curriculum implementation and its assessment.

Kaziranga University coupled with Plymouth University’s expertise in areas including robotics, engineering, computing and environmental sciences will converge the three themes shaping the future of education, namely education and society, education and learning science, and education and learning tools, to form a new learning framework through their School of Management Studies and the School of Engineering. 

“Together with a research-informed curriculum, we embed employability skills throughout a student's journey altogether. More such agreements are expected to be signed in the near future,” said Rammell, adding that his university was excited to have collaborated with Kaziranga University. He said Assam was famous for having the highest population of the one–horned rhino and it would be a noble effort to save such a rare animal by creating awareness through global educational ventures.

Vilas M Salokhe, Vice–Chancellor of Kaziranga University said the university would start its academic session with courses in engineering and management. “The university aspires to become the centre of excellence for teaching and research by embracing diverse branches of learning such as health sciences, agriculture, environment, IT and allied subjects. Students will find ample opportunities to get an exposure to the best institutes and corporate houses in the country and abroad, “ Salokhe explained.

Rammell said there was an inherent link between higher education and economic growth and thus it was vital that universities delivered innovative and enterprising education to produce graduates who would thrive in the global market.