Public investment in higher education would pay off for the whole nation

Such concerns reflect a poor community understanding of the financing of universities and the reliance on international education to provide additional marginal income to support core university activities

To ensure the sector continues to contribute to the economy, and to provide world-class services to our international students, universities have set themselves a strategic framework – a commitment to achieving key goals within the next two decades.

These include:

• making an absolute commitment to quality in curricula, teaching and research;
• pursuing shared goals with government;
• investing significantly in the development and promotion of international activities; and
• constructing a strong home support base.

While universities are giving equal importance to each of these approaches I would like today to concentrate on the development of partnerships with government in the last three points.

Shared goals with governments [federal and state]

Australian universities’ international education activities are inseparable from a significant range of government responsibilities. These include immigration, overseas trade and diplomatic relations, quality assurance, consumer protection and capital, recurrent and research funding for universities.

It is critical therefore that there be a shared, positive, co-coordinated and consultative approach to internationalisation by governments and universities. And this approach requires joint action.

Onshore it requires:

• full consultation between Australian governments and universities in the formulation of immigration, trade and education policies;
• continuous enhancement, through direct government investment in university teaching and research capacity and facilities (these facilities in turn underpin the value of the overseas student education experience while at the same time directly supporting the education of domestic students);
• and government investment in a reconfigured program to give Australian students enhanced levels of exchange and study opportunities overseas.

Offshore, it requires:

• establishment and maintenance of strong bilateral diplomatic relations;
• a comprehensive range of bilateral agreements in education, science and technology co-operation;
• and a network of high-quality, whole-of-government marketing, promotion and information services.

Recognition of the value of the government-university partnership could be enhanced by the establishment of an annual program of government sponsored national awards for excellence in international education.

International image of Australian universities

In parallel with the efforts universities are making to internationalise their teaching, research and community partnership activities, they devote considerable resources to raising their profile internationally.

Many of these activities are best undertaken in partnership with governments. Some can be undertaken ‘corporately’, through the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee. However, individual or coalitions of universities undertake much of the strategic work. This includes: