IDP Connect emerging futures research, the latest edition of which was published last month Australian Conference on International Educationsuggested that Australia has seen a resurgence as an international education destination and has risen in the rankings to be the second preferred destination after Canada. But, there are still concerns that remain.
While the research found that Australia now ranks a close second in student preference at 49% compared to Canada’s 52%, the mental health and well-being of students remains a major concern. About 77% of the 11,000 respondents said they have been affected by feelings of depression, sadness and anxiety.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty after Covid, it has turned the world upside down,” Jane Li, IDP area director in Australasia, tells The PIE.
despite facing “increasing competition” from competitors, it is “very nice to see Australia moving up two places,” he says.
“I can understand the feeling of isolation, the financial pressure, the pressure from family”
Australia moved up to second place from fourth, in the span of five months in the August issue of IDP research, based on student surveys, in terms of being the second most preferred destination for international students.
“Improved perceptions” reflect Australia being a welcoming country, their part-time and post-study labor rights, and changes in the qualified migration policy.
“For international students on land, many things have changed, but many things have not changed as well,” he postulates.
“For example, the challenges they face (I was an international student myself and I can understand the feeling of isolation, the financial pressure, the pressure from family in terms of finding a job and getting the return on investment, etc.) .) have always been there…
“But these pressures have been escalated to the next level by the instability and uncertainty brought on by Covid. [At the same time] this highlights the fact that there is an opportunity for us as a sector to further support international students in this regard”, he stresses.
“One of the things our team has noticed in terms of supporting international students on land is that students just want to be part of the community. They want to know where they belong – this is what we try to address in our ‘IDP Thrive’ programme. So as soon as the students arrive, we have a community and a support network to help them settle in and feel like part of a family and set them up for success,” Li says.
Students on land face challenges around feelings of isolation and financial pressures, research suggests. Source:IDP Emerging Futures Research
One key finding that is “very concerning” is the date on students’ mental health and well-being. As of now, universities are doing a lot, but there’s “tremendous room for improvement, in terms of really understanding individual students and tailoring the support that’s given to them,” he says.
“In fact, sometimes students really need a lifeline.”
wellness and safety company Sonder recently launched his own ‘Change’s agents’ guide focused on best practice frameworks for reshaping institutional well-being.
Regarding the publication of the document, Sonder’s head of Strategic Markets, Rodney Davis, stated that “the international ranking is not the only lodestar.”
“Senior leaders must also focus on engaging and creating meaningful value with all stakeholders on that journey: students, staff, employers, partners, donors, community organizations, research bodies, and our society at large.
“The new style of university executive is not just a caretaker and officiant; they are an agent of change that, in a collaborative and proactive way, co-designs a healthier institution and a better world”.
The company has partnered with the University of Sydney to provide the institution’s international students with free access to its 24/7 professional and multilingual service for security, medical and mental health support.
Their app connects students with registered nurses, psychologists, doctors, and wellness experts “at the touch of a button.”
One of the things that IDP brings to the table is the fact that it operates in over 30 countries around the world and within Australia, serving a student base from over 190 countries; this helps the organization to be “in a unique position to make a difference in the educational experience of students in Australia,” says Li.
He reiterated IDP’s plans to expand in africa – recently opened his first West Africa Office in Nigeria, which according to her Help diversify the company’s existing footprint.
Li is “really excited about the [sector’s] rebound” and the fact that international students have begun to “return to the ground”.
“We have had a very challenging time over the last two or three years and our priority is to make sure we support returning international students and [helping make sure] that they are well established in their new study destination. And secondly, working together with the industry to rebuild Australia’s reputation as a welcoming country.”
The Thrive programme, with ‘Thrive ambassadors’ and ‘peer support networks’, is vital for students to feel ‘supported’, ‘connected’ and ‘rewarded’, he adds.
Li says that one area where the sector could push further, now and in the future, is “more collaboration and sharing of best practices: university to university, university to government, university to agents…, and also collaboration with the service providers such as hosting providers, etc.”
Another area that should be highlighted is the rising rates of domestic violence among international students, something that “has seen an increase” during Covid, according to Li.
“Covid has exacerbated the need for mental health support for international students.
“It’s [the mental health crisis] it has gotten worse than before Covid and we need to take it more seriously,” says Li.
Increasing the number of counselors and student support staff from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds will go a long way in helping students feel more comfortable and better understood when seeking support.
“NORTHInternational students not only contribute culturally, but also boost jobs and help stimulate the economy.”
“In addition, the support provided to students does not necessarily have to be classified as mental health support, it can be referred to as ‘confidence building’ or a ‘friendship group’…” she postulates.
One of the things that can help increase the sense of belonging of international students is greater social acceptance and therefore the need for an enhanced social license.
“It is important that community awareness develops around the important contribution that international students make – the economic and social contribution… international students not only contribute culturally, but also boost jobs and help stimulate the economy. And they are the brand ambassadors of our country.
“I really believe that there is much more that we can do as an industry, together,” concludes Li.
