National Taiwan University welcomed Mr. Wu Jin-Yong, the representative of The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei. He was received by President Wen-Chang Chen and Professor Wen-Yuh Jywe highlighting NTU’s commitment to enhancing relations between Vietnam and Taiwan.
The meeting aimed to strengthen educational and economic collaboration between the two nations. Discussions included the status of Vietnamese students currently studying at NTU and expanded to explore ongoing collaborative initiatives between Vietnam and Taiwan. Prof. Wen-Yuh Jywe introduced the ” Global Research & Industry Alliance”. This initiative is designed to align with Taiwan’s national population policies and talent demands of domestic industries. The alliance aims to increase the influx of international students to Taiwan and facilitate their integration into local workforce upon graduation.
Mr. Wu Jin-Yong expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the meeting, emphasizing that such collaborations will further strengthen educational and economic exchanges between Vietnam and Taiwan, benefiting both nations. Moving forward, NTU remains committed to maintaining close ties with The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and other international partners, fostering continued cooperation in cross-border education initiatives to create a more globally integrated academic landscape.
Year: 2024
A higher price tag
“Australia currently has the least competitive student visa application costs among key OECD education destinations,” says a briefing paper by the postgraduate students representative group, the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA).
This comment may sound familiar and relevant to the present day, however, this particular briefing paper will be 15 years old in December. Listing examples of student visa application fees in competitor destinations, the paper argues that Australia’s fees were too high and should be lowered to maintain the country’s popularity with international students.
Of course, all the student visa fees listed in the paper are now higher. Recently, New Zealand’s student visa fee also doubled; however, Australia’s fees are still the highest in that table.
A “nail in the coffin”
A UK student visa application fee is £490. In the US, it’s USD 185, plus a 350 SEVIS fee. In Canada, it’s CAD 150. In Ireland, €60-100 (depending on whether it’s a single-entry or multiple-entry), and in the Netherlands, €228. In France, between €50 and €99.
The Australian government recently hiked student visa application fees to AUD 1,600 (about USD 1080, €969, £826). The student visa fee increase was announced at the beginning of July 2024 amid other initiatives, including lowering the eligibility age to 35 years old for specific streams of the Temporary Graduate Visa (master’s by coursework and bachelor’s degrees).
“These changes will strengthen integrity in the international education system and help to fund important reforms […],” said Minister for Education Jason Clare in a statement announcing the changes.
Other comments were less enthusiastic.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy tells QS Insights Magazine: “Australia has worked hard to establish itself as a leading provider of international education and the Government’s continued policy pressure on the sector puts our position of strength at risk.
“This is not good for our economy or our universities, both of which rely heavily on international student fees, or the communities who benefit from the skills, knowledge and culture of the students who choose to study in Australia.”
Comments by the Group of Eight (Go8), the representative body for the country’s research-intensive universities, were arguably even stronger. In a statement, the visa fee hike was branded as “another nail in the coffin for international education”, with the Go8’s Chief Executive Vicki Thomson arguing that, far from restoring integrity in the sector, this measure would be a deterrent to international students. “The recent crackdown on visa approvals has already sent a strong signal that we are not open for business,” Thomson said.
“This increase in visa fees will reverse the diversification of countries from which students come, at the very time the Federal Government is encouraging our universities to attract quality students from the ASEAN region.
“Yet again our international students are being used as cash cows to prop up the economy, the national research effort and now to fund other Government initiatives.”
Read the full article on QS Insights Magazine.
Safeguarding innovation: why intellectual property matters
In a Louisville-headquartered company, there is a cabinet with two combination locks kept behind a vault and a triple-locked door. Lying in this cabinet are 11 vials of herbs and spices as well as a yellowed, handwritten note describing one of the most well-guarded secrets of all time: KFC’s original recipe.
Recipes are prized as trade secrets in the food sector. Trade secrets and patents are types of intellectual property (IP) available in other sectors as well, such as search engine algorithms and patented drugs derived from research innovations.
By turning an idea or invention into IP that is legally protected and owned, using it will require authorisation from the IP owner. For scientists, understanding their IP rights is fundamental, especially when their research is translated into practical applications.
To support translational research at National Technological University (NTU), the University’s innovation and enterprise company – NTUitive – is committed to helping NTU scientists protect their discoveries and launch them from the lab to the marketplace.
Managing IP
“IP management is important because it allows inventors to legally protect the potential value of their discoveries and inventions,” says Mr David Toh, CEO of NTUitive. “This protection encourages inventors to invest time and effort into research and innovation, knowing that they have legal protection to safeguard their IP.”
Overseeing and managing NTU’s IP assets, NTUitive supports the University’s mission of developing an innovative ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship and facilitates research commercialisation. It aids in evaluating technology disclosures from NTU researchers to ensure that they align with statutory patentability requirements before determining the most suitable mode and strategy for filing IP protection.
NTUitive also teams up with external parties to oversee the drafting, prosecution and maintenance of the patents in both local and international settings. It works closely with researchers throughout the process, educating them on the nuances of IP protection and dispelling common misconceptions.
Ms Christina Gee, Director of IP Management at NTUitive, says that many researchers assume that securing a patent is instant upon filing. In fact, patent filing is a lengthy and iterative procedure that can span two to seven years, depending on the nature of the technologies involved.
She encourages researchers to cultivate an awareness for spotting potential IP early in their projects. “To bring the benefits of their discoveries to the public, learning about IP rights would be the first essential step,” she says.
Securing IP rights ensures inventors are recognised for their ideas and hard work, while protecting their work from unauthorised use by others. IP holders, whether of a patent or other forms, are granted exclusive rights to control the use of their invention.
This can help facilitate collaboration, where industry partnerships can be formed, and licensing opportunities, where licenses can be granted to industry to bring the ideas to market. Patents also help spur innovation as they will subsequently be published, allowing others the opportunity to build on them.
In the complex landscape of IP protection, NTUitive offers researchers guidance on formulating cost-effective strategies and navigating revisions to IP filing, making sure there is room for products to potentially evolve over time.
NTU spinoffs, such as medical devices company Articares, have benefitted from NTUitive’s IP assistance. Articares is known for its flagship product H-Man – an intelligent and portable robot that provides stroke patients with minimally supervised, at-home arm rehabilitation.
According to Articares CEO Dr Asif Hussain, NTUitive’s support started as early as 2013 when research behind H-Man began, and continued until the company was spun off in 2017.
“NTUitive played a crucial role in guiding us through the complexities of IP planning. With limited knowledge in this domain, understanding how to protect our innovations effectively was a daunting task,” he says. “Their expertise proved invaluable as they educated us on the nuances of IP protection and also helped us discern which aspects to prioritise, particularly considering the associated high costs.”
Articares relies on cutting-edge hardware and artificial intelligence technologies, so safeguarding its IP assets has been crucial.
“Our collaboration with NTUitive was not just transactional – the insights acquired became an integral part of our company’s DNA. We were not just recipients of advice, but active participants in the process of fortifying our IP, which contributed significantly to our subsequent successes,” adds Dr Asif.
In the last 14 years, NTU has amassed over 5,000 technology inventions/disclosures and licensed out nearly 1,000 technologies. In 2022 alone, the University reported 518 technology inventions/disclosures, of which over 140 have been licensed – surpassing their figures from five years ago by 40%.
Taking concepts to industry
IP protection is just one part of the research translation equation. After securing IP, commercialisation typically takes two pathways. The most common approach is to license out IP assets. In this instance, NTUitive leads the negotiation of license agreements to ensure financial and other benefits for NTU and its inventors.
Alternatively, NTU inventors can opt to establish a company like Articares. According to Dr Manish Sinha, NTUitive’s Director of Venture Building, establishing spinoffs can be a learning curve for scientists. This is why NTUitive offers diverse training programmes, such as the Lean LaunchPad bootcamp to assist inventors in developing business acumen.
“The process for creating spinoffs is non-linear and a long haul, but can be highly rewarding,” says Dr Sinha, who also emphasises the importance of identifying customer needs and staying abreast of international competition in building successful businesses.
Every project often begins with NTUitive identifying potential spinoffs based on market opportunities and the IP’s technological edge, followed by improving the IP’s market viability.
NTUitive’s non-dilutive proof-of-concept and proof-of- value grants, which provide sizeable capital allocations of about S$250,000 (US$188,000) and S$500,000 (US$376,000) per project, serve as substantial aid for IP commercialisation.
The company further leverages its entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting inventors with mentors, industry players, and strategic and financial investors aligned with the execution of their ideas.
In under a decade, NTUitive has successfully incubated 330 startups and deep-tech spinoffs. The collective value of 70 of these deep-tech spinoffs – where NTUitive has current holdings – surpasses S$820 million (US$616 million), as determined by their latest funding valuations.
A continuous journey
While spinoffs initially emerge from IP developed through research, this only marks the beginning of their journey. To remain competitive, ventures should continually develop new IP assets. NTUitive facilitates new IP creation with proof-of-concept grants and equity-linked funding.
Scientists, often the founding members of spinoffs, are also encouraged to maintain close ties with their ventures and continue to develop new IP. Integrating new technologies into spinoffs hones their technological advantage in the market.
Dr Sinha cites Articares as a prime example of how the continuous collaboration between CEO Dr Asif and co-founder Assoc Prof Domenico Campolo of NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has been fruitful for the company. He believes their joint efforts in developing future IP would strengthen Articares in the realm of intelligent robotics and patient care.
The NTUitive team is optimistic and energised for what lies ahead. Dr Sinha highlights that their goals have always extended beyond financial terms: “It’s on us to bring innovation from NTU to the global map and make an impact.”
For NTUitive CEO Mr Toh, he defines his team’s purpose as two-fold, saying: “Our activities are intended to translate research outcomes into societal and economic benefits and, at the same time, help make innovation and entrepreneurship a defining feature of NTU’s brand of education.”
Inauguration of the University Research Facilities at EdUHK
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held the inauguration ceremony on 27 August for the two University Research Facilities (URFs) – the University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (UDSAI) and the University Research Facility of Human Behavioural Neuroscience (UHBN). The URFs are to promote interdisciplinary research, such as among the fields of artificial intelligence, biology and neuroscience, early childhood education, curriculum and instruction, learning sciences, and linguistics.
The UDSAI is equipped with advanced high-performance computing facilities and strives to leverage the power of computers and information technology to address a diverse range of research questions.
It is led by Professor Xu Guandong, Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence. His research areas include data science, artificial intelligence, and social computing. Professor Xu’s pioneering research has won widespread recognition, and he has been consistently ranked in the top 2% of the world’s most-cited scientists compiled by Stanford University.
The UHBN has been set up to further explore learning and memory, movement and motivated behaviour, sensation and perception, and emotional well-being, as well as facilitate the sharing of state-of-the-art equipment. It has been established to provide multimodal technological platforms to facilitate a deeper understanding of the integration of biologically based data from visual, auditory, motor, and neural processes.
It is led by Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, Chair Professor of Biology and Neuroscience leads the UHBN. He and his team have developed nanomaterial-based technologies for harvesting autologous neural stem cells and devices for cell differentiation, which have won over 50 international innovation awards.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Vice President (Research and Development) Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, the senior management of EdUHK and scholars from other universities in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
In his welcoming remarks, Professor Lee stated that over 70 principal investigators and students in UDSAI and UHBN have used the facilities for their research over the past few months. He expressed confidence that, with the two URFs, EdUHK can challenge itself to produce even higher-quality research outputs. “EdUHK is committed to expanding multidisciplinary research and teaching, as well as promoting interdisciplinary knowledge exchange. The University will continue to lead in the field of education and promote strategic development in related areas,” he said.
Professor Chan extended his gratitude to the two Directors of URFs and distinguished scholars for their leadership, contribution and dedication. While reaffirming the spirit of innovation and collaboration embodied in their work defines EdUHK, he believed that the new facilities, as a cross disciplinary research hub, would spark connections across multiple disciplines, facilitate ground-breaking and innovative research for the University, paving the way for a brighter and more technologically advanced future.
UiTM and UNJ foster global connections through International Volunteerism program
In a remarkable display of cross-border collaboration, student leaders from Faculty of Applied Sciences (FSG), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) participated in the International Volunteerism Programs held at Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ). The event, organized by UNJ and supported by UiTM\’s FSG along with various other faculties, took place from September 18 to 21, 2023. The event was also graced by the presence of deans and representatives from the Faculty of Education, College of Built Environment, Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, and Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies. Their participation demonstrated the value of cross-border cooperation and UiTM\’s dedication to supporting students\’ holistic development.
This four-day program focused on inspiring students, fostering leadership, and promoting mental health awareness among participants. The main objective of the event was to establish a platform for students from different cultural and academic backgrounds to convene and exchange ideas, participate in significant dialogues, and inspire one another. By addressing topics such as mental health and leadership, the program sought to provide students the skills they needed to meet the demands of modern education and society.
Throughout the program, students engaged in various activities, including Leadership Talk, Cultural Exchange Event and Social Activities. The significance of this event lies in its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, and Goal 4: Quality Education. By addressing mental health and leadership, the program contributes to improving the well-being of students and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
In conclusion, the International Volunteerism Programs at Universitas Negeri Jakarta provided an invaluable experience for the students of UiTM as well as contributed to the broader goal of sustainable development. As these young leaders return to their home institutions, they bring with them a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.
UNAIR holds its first Airlangga SDGs School
Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Center, has held its first Airlangga SDGs School. The event was held on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, in the Rote Room, 4th floor of ASEEC Tower at UNAIR’s Dharmawangsa – B Campus. Thirty students from various academic levels were selected to participate after a rigorous selection process.
Opened the event, the Vice Rector for Internationalization, Digitalization, and Information (IDI), Prof. Muhammad Miftahussurur, dr MKes SpPD-KGEH PhD FINASIM, explained that the Airlangga SDGs School is a course designed to cultivate both experts and activists who are well-versed in SDGs.
“The SDGs School is a two-day program aimed not only at producing experts but also at nurturing activists capable of driving and influencing SDGs implementation. This effort is intended to impact not just UNAIR but the entire country,” he stated.
Prof. Miftahussurur also highlighted that the Airlangga SDGs School is part of a larger initiative to embed SDGs awareness within the academic community. He emphasized that UNAIR has long been a leader in SDGs implementation, as evidenced by its world-ranking achievement in SDGs No Poverty.
“UNAIR has been leading the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), where it serves as the pioneer and coordinator for global community service initiatives. Additionally, UNAIR consistently reports its SDGs indicators through platforms like UI Green Metric and THE Impact,” he added.
Bayu Arie Fianto PhD, Chair of UNAIR SDGs Center, also spoke at the event, emphasizing that the Airlangga SDGs School is part of a series of activities leading up to the SDGs Festival, which will culminate in October.
“This program is a key event leading up to the October SDGs Festival, where we plan to officially recognize the participants who complete the course. We hope this initiative will be fully realized,” Fianto said.
As the first of its kind-event organized by UNAIR’s SDGs Center, Fianto expressed his hope that the selected students would make the most of this unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge.
“We encourage the participants to fully engage in this experience, asking questions and discussing with the instructors to gain a comprehensive understanding of SDGs. As members of Generation Z, who are digitally connected and passionate, it’s crucial that this passion is complemented by solid knowledge of SDGs,” emphasized the National President of SDGs Centers across Indonesia.
Kyiv Polytechnic professor receives award from International Institute of Welding
Yevgenia Chvertko, Associate Professor at the Welding Department of the Institute of Material Science and Welding at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI), has become the first woman in Ukraine and Eastern Europe to receive an award from the International Institute of Welding, a not-for-profit organization shaping global trends in the field of welding and allied technologies.
Her own experience shows that welding is a profession without gender restrictions. Women are equally adept at working with metal, and they can redefine standards in the industry. As part of her activities at the Board of Directors of the International Welding Institute, Ms. Chvertko has carried out several projects of great importance to Ukraine, particularly the revocation of Russia’s membership in this organization. Recently elected to the International Authorization Board, Ms. Chvertko is responsible for training, qualifying and
certifying welding specialists.
Currently, Yevgenia Chvertko is applying international standards for the training of welding specialists at the KPI Institute of Material Science and Welding, qualifying international welding engineers capable of managing complex projects. In addition, she teaches in the Welding Department, where students have the opportunity to earn a European Engineer (EUR ING) Certificate without interrupting their studies.
KPI graduates are among the most sought-after specialists in today’s labor market. Most of them have no problem at all joining international projects, even without prior experience.
NTU’s Global Semiconductor Talent Initiative: A model for Industry-Academia collaboration
National Taiwan University (NTU) hosted the Orientation and Welcome Ceremony for the “Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program Taiwan (#STIPT)” on March 6. NTU officially began its collaboration with the program this year as the exclusive partner institution of TSMC and the Saxony government. The objective of the “Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program” is selecting 30 students from three German universities and six countries for a semester-long academic training in Taiwan. As the pioneering and sole partner, NTU is leading the way in a groundbreaking model of cross-border collaboration between industry and academia to foster talent development in Taiwan.
In addition to the semiconductor educational training program, NTU’s Office of International Affairs will organize career training workshops, Mandarin courses, and local cultural immersion activities throughout the semester. This comprehensive approach aims to develop students’ soft skills for the workplace and enhance their understanding of Taiwanese culture. After the summer break, the students are expected to return to Germany with professional semiconductor training experience and a deep appreciation for Taiwanese culture.
President Prof. Wen-Chang Chen stated that the global semiconductor industry has been experiencing continuous growth, leading to talent shortages that challenge governments and enterprises worldwide. To this end, NTU is taking on the responsibility of nurturing talent. Apart from providing comprehensive training in the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Engineering and Management, NTU has launched the new “International Bachelor’s Degree Program in Semiconductors” at the International College in 2024, which is taught in English. This program, along with the semiconductor-focused programs in the Graduate School of Advanced Technology with a particular emphasis on IC design, collectively contribute to the development of international semiconductor talent in Taiwan.
NTU has a rich history of cultivating multinational semiconductor talents. In 2023, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NTU organized the “Taiwan-Europe Semiconductor Short-term Training Program,” offering a two-week intensive semiconductor course for 39 outstanding students and young professionals from Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Italy. NTU will continue to enrich its industry-academia collaboration with TSMC and establish long-term technological, academic, and talent exchanges with Germany. Furthermore, it aspires to expand this pioneering model of cross-border industry-academia cooperation in talent cultivation into more diverse fields.
Chulalongkorn’s CSII enhances AI literacy for senior executives to drive organizational growth with AI
The Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (CSII) recently hosted an executive training program titled “AI Literacy for C-Suite Executives” on August 22, 2024, at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai, Bangkok. The program was inaugurated by Prof. Pharm. Lt. Col. Dr. Suchada Sukrong, Director of the Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation. The closing ceremony was presided over by Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, Acting President of Chulalongkorn University, who also awarded certificates to the participants.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat emphasized that this training course was specifically designed for senior executives, providing them with strategic knowledge and tools that can be applied within their organizations. The course aims to foster innovation, drive sustainable growth, and lead organizations confidently through the digital transformation era by harnessing the potential of AI to revolutionize industries and create new opportunities.
The “AI Literacy for C-Suite Executives” course was organized to elevate the strategic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) among senior executives and to prepare organizations to navigate technological changes. The program was developed with the support of international experts, offering a comprehensive curriculum that covers both fundamental theories and practical applications of AI to help organizations thrive in the face of technological disruption.
Additionally, a “Post-Course Clinic” was held on August 23, 2024, providing participants with the opportunity for one-on-one consultations with AI experts to strategize and implement AI within their organizations.
UK’s student slump
A more welcoming tone from the new Labour government towards international students has helped to slow the decline in applications to UK universities. But the traditionally strong recruitment levels needed to balance the books remain a long way off at many institutions.
Indeed, a recent analysis of risk factors by three academics from Sheffield University’s accountancy department concluded that four or five universities were close to bankruptcy. Many more institutions would also have to take drastic action, including multiple course closures and property sales, to avoid joining them. Although Vice-Chancellors are hoping for an increase in fees for UK students in October’s budget, a recovery in the international student market is equally urgent.
The factors at play are more complex than the more doom-laden reports have suggested, not least because Australia and Canada – two of the main rival recruiters – are both capping international student numbers. Some UK universities – generally the more highly-ranked institutions – are still in a relatively stable position, some levels of course are suffering more than others, and there is no uniform decline between countries in the numbers heading for Britain and Northern Ireland.
Over recent decades, UK universities’ recruitment of international students has been a story of uninterrupted success, as they benefited from a strong reputation and an English-speaking environment. Brexit caused the first ripple, as the numbers coming from EU countries plummeted, although the financial damage was limited because they had paid the same fees as their UK counterparts and their places were filled by students from other countries paying much more. In fact, the number of international students from outside the EU almost doubled, reaching a record 750,000 last year – far in excess of the official target of 600,000.
By then, however, immigration had become a dominant political issue for a Conservative government threatened by the rise of the right-wing Reform Party. Although polling showed that public concern about rising legal and illegal immigration did not extend to international students, their numbers were easier to control and would contribute to ministers’ desired overall decline. In particular, a ban on bringing dependants for undergraduate and most taught postgraduate courses, introduced at the start of this year, had a dramatic effect. There was even consideration given to withdrawing international students’ right to work for two years after graduation, which was reintroduced only in 2020. A rapid review by the government’s Migration Advisory Committee eventually recommended retaining the scheme, but the process added to concerns among potential applicants.
Deposits for places on courses starting this autumn are down more than a third, according to Enroly, a web platform for managing international enrolment, and even this figure is an improvement on May’s figure, which put the drop at over 50 percent. The declines were particularly sharp among students from Nigeria and India – 63 percent and 43 percent respectively – both of which are nationalities which are more than averagely likely to bring dependants when studying abroad.
The latest UK figures for undergraduate entry show international acceptances down only marginally on 2023, although still well below pre-pandemic numbers. But undergraduates are less likely than postgraduates to bring dependants and universities are braced for less encouraging figures later in the year when admissions are no longer dominated by first degree entrants.
There had been fears that this summer’s riots following the murder of three young girls in Southport might prove a further disincentive to international students considering the UK. But the short-lived nature of the disturbances and tough action against many of those participating appear to have dampened the effect.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has gone out of her way to reverse the negative impression given to international students by the last government. In a video aimed at both potential applicants and universities, she said: “While this government is committed to managing migration carefully, international students will always be welcome in this country. The UK wouldn’t be the same without them.“
She added: “Students benefit from coming to the UK, and we benefit from them being here. But I don’t see this as a hard-nosed transactional relationship. It’s not just about GDP, balance sheets or export receipts. No, my passion is for an open, global Britain – one that welcomes new ideas. One that looks outward in optimism, not inward in exclusion.“
However, this does not imply the scrapping of the ban on dependents. When asked in a television interview whether the visa rules would be reversed, Phillipson responded: “We don’t intend to change that.” More positively, she has also confirmed that the right to work at the end of a course would remain.
Many universities – particularly those with the lowest entry standards – remain braced for continuing serious declines in international enrolments. Home Office figures published in August showed that while the decline in sponsored study visas had slowed to 16 percent at the height of the admissions season, the drop in applications from dependents was over 80 percent.
Those responsible for international recruitment at UK universities will be hoping that Canada’s intention to reduce the number of study permits by more than a third and Australia’s announcement of a new quota system for each university and college will redirect some applicants their way. In particular, the Australian controls are expected to affect the popular, large, research-intensive universities disproportionately.
There are other players in the increasingly competitive international student market, however. In Asia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia are all boosting their recruitment efforts. The Japanese government has set a target of 400,000 international students by 2033 and has launched its first official video promoting the country as a study destination. European countries are also increasing their international enrolments, promoting degrees taught in English with low or no fees. Germany, in particular, has seen a surge in student numbers.
In the UK, a variety of responses include the search for new markets, with countries such as Kenya and Nepal showing big increases in the numbers recruited, albeit from a small base. There has also been significant growth in transnational education (TNE), especially in China, which has been sending fewer students to the UK. China now licences two overseas campuses and 47 joint institutes with UK universities, and it has been reported that almost 80 percent of UK universities are involved in TNE projects.