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Four Corners program raises concerns about international student sector

Last night’s Four Corners program Cash Cows has sent shock waves through Australia’s $34 billion university sector.
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So the universities claim that there are “incredibly positive outcomes that Australia is achieving with our 450,000 overseas students.” But does that justify brushing the problems shown on Four Corners under the carpet? It’s a very defensive, not to say dismissive, attitude to the criticisms.
Correct. There are some incredibly positive outcomes for international students: pathway to migration and massive income for the tertiary education sector. It’s business and Australian universities are happy to oblige.
During the course of my degree I have met many students who fit the category of having limited English skills and are far less able than required of undergraduate standard. They are willing and desperate to do anything to pass.
Whether or not these students manage to find ongoing work in their field upon graduation is altogether another thing. There are many driving taxis, working in cafes and in the cleaning industry.
The buck stops with universities. It’s disingenuous of these universities to claim otherwise. It brings us ALL down. I feel my degree is devalued.
So,what are they doing about it?