Alex Barthel: are tertiary students competent in English? - Lingua Franca Alex Barthel: Australian universities have had to adapt, often with great difficulties to two major and closely related changes. The first of these changes is the type of student enrolling at Australian universities today, in comparison with, say 30 or 40 years ago. A range of federal, state and institutional legislative changes has led universities to implement equity and access as well as multicultural policies. This can be seen as a positive change, in that it has resulted in universities opening their doors to students from a far wider range of educational and socio-economic backgrounds than would have been the case in the more elitist times of the 60s and 70s. The second major change universities are struggling to adjust to is the undeniable failure by the federal government to adequately plan and fund tertiary education to meet Australia's skills needs. These days, only about a third of university funding comes from the federal government. What about local students?
Instructional Scaffolding: A Definitive Guide : Exeter to cut international business student numbers after quality concerns Ability concerns at University of Exeter business school forces rethink on international intake Source: Alamy Overseas students: universities with the highest numbers shown in the table below will view Exeter’s plans with interest Russell Group member the University of Exeter is to cut the level of international students in its business school after concerns over their academic quality, in a move that may be followed by other UK institutions. Fifty-four per cent of students in the University of Exeter’s business school are from outside the European Union – above the figure of 45 per cent agreed between the university and the business school. “The university needed other colleges to increase their international student numbers in order to be able to reduce the ratio in the business school,” state minutes of a debate at a recent university council meeting. International numbers in the business school will be cut by 200 and redistributed to other colleges. john.morgan@tsleducation.com
Pathways to profit | Features Source: Getty Despite some of the “big five” experiencing a blip in recruitment in 2011 – possibly due to more demanding English language requirements for student visas brought in by the coalition government – recruitment is now surging. At Navitas colleges, UK enrolments fell 13 per cent in 2011, but bounced back 15 per cent the following year and then grew by a quarter in 2013. Indeed, Pitman believes that in the future the majority of the UK’s international students could come via a pathway course. INTO’s Colin is more cautious about future growth in the UK. Within the higher education sector, the rapid rise of pathway providers has not escaped criticism. Last August, it emerged that the University of Exeter was reviewing the quality of students entering its business school through INTO, she points out. External assessors have also raised concerns about the mechanisms used to assure academics standards at some centres. Click to rate 0 out of 5 stars
Postsecondary Success A physics lab at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina, which offers nearly 300 degree and certificate programs. our goal: to ensure that all low-income young adults have affordable access to a quality postsecondary education that is tailored to their individual needs and educational goals and leads to timely completion of a degree or certificate with labor-market value. The Challenge At A Glance A college education is the gateway to the American middle class, with college graduates earning substantially more than those without a degree. Poor college completion rates in the U.S. hurt the national economy. The U.S. economy will need an estimated 22 million new college graduates by 2018 but will face a shortfall of at least 3 million. The foundation works with educators, researchers, technologists, foundations, policymakers, and other partners to help public colleges and universities affordably and efficiently guide more low-income students to degree completion.
Student visa applications rise strongly after tough three years | Australia news A large increase in international student visa applications in Australia has raised the sector’s hopes of moving on from the slump caused by a “perfect storm” of a series of migration rule changes, bad publicity about the nation’s safety, and the strong dollar. More than 74,000 student visa applications were lodged in the September 2013 quarter, 7.1% higher than the same period in 2012 and the highest for this quarter in the last four years, according to figures published by the Department of Immigration this week. The strong signs follow a tough three years for Australia’s international education sector, which experienced rapid growth until a series of developments, including violent crimes committed against foreign students and a government clampdown on misuse of the system as a pathway to permanent residency. A 2011 discussion paper noted “the rapidity and magnitude of changes to migration and student visa policy settings”.
Principles of Best Practice for 21st Century Education Principles of Best Practice for 21st Century Education Moderator & Summariser: Mark Nichols eLearning Consultant, UCOL Palmerston North, New Zealand M.Nichols@ucol.ac.nz Discussion Schedule Discussion: 15 - 24 April 2002 Summing up: 25 - 26 April 2002 Introduction The change in education practice and tools over the last ten years has been truly remarkable. The imperatives for 21st Century education are (Nichols 2001:13-14): Increased capacity and efficiency - through enabling institutions to cater for the learning of a relatively large number of students at once. The challenge to course designers and educators is how to realise these benefits practically without compromising the principles of sound education. Discussion assumed that the underlying principles of education endure over time and apply regardless of the actual media applied, that is, none of them are inherently dependent on any particular technology. Individualisation – adaptability to the learning needs of the individual.
Best Practice & Innovation - International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Distinguished Contribution | Leadership | Best Practice | Professional Commentary | Postgraduate Thesis Best Practice / Innovation in International Education 2014 These awards recognise the work of an individual or team that has contributed to international education through a groundbreaking development in international development, internationalisation of the curriculum, marketing or communication, support programs for international students, pathway initiatives, mobility programs or social inclusion activities. These awards are proudly sponsored by Hobsons. This year's awardees are: The recipient's of this year's awards will present on their respective projects at the Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) in Brisbane: Date: Wednesday 8 October 2014 Time: 3.30pm–4.25pm Location: M1, Mezzanine Level Picture Yourself in Perth, Chengdu Competition – StudyPerth Mike Ryan, StudyPerth Leo Yu, StudyPerth Jessie Ying, StudyPerth The competition aims to: Back to Top
Institutional Best Practices An institution’s adherence to AIRC’s institutional guidelines signifies its commitment to engaging in marketing, recruitment and student support practices that are truthful, ethical and transparent and which meet with the highest levels of professionalism. Furthermore, it signifies an institution’s commitment to operating in accordance with NAFSA’s Principles of Good Practice for the Recruitment and Admissions of International Students. Guideline 1: Commitment to Proper Student Support Services AIRC Institutional and Pathway Members understand the international student experience, recognize the importance of respecting the needs of their students, and commit to the provision of supporting programs and services conducive to the enrollment, persistence and success of international students on their campuses. Purpose: Guideline 2: Accuracy in Marketing Information Purpose: Guideline 3: Transparent Student Recruitment Practices Guideline 4: Engaged and Strategic Agent Management NAFSA.