Uni in fear of Indian decline

Andrew Mathieson
DEAKIN University is bracing for a decline in Indian student enrolments next year after recent rises in international enrolments at its Geelong campuses, according to a vice-chancellor.
Deakin international and development deputy vice-chancellor Robin Buckham said the forecasts provided a bleak outlook for Geelong’s two campuses at Waurn Ponds and on the city’s waterfront.
The university has been a leader in attracting students from overseas, especially Asian markets from where the Geelong university derives a large slice of its international enrolment income.
“While enrolments have increased over the past four years, the current climate may start to impact on future enrolments and we are already starting to notice a decrease in interest from India,” Ms Buckham said.
Deakin’s Geelong campuses led the university for international enrolments for the past four years. Enrolments had previously risen more than 36 per cent from 615 in 2006 to 840 this year.
All Deakin’s five campuses, which include Melbourne and Warrnambool, had experienced a steady 17 per cent increase in international students.
Ms Buckham said the strength of the Australian dollar would be “likely to (have) an impact on our numbers”.
Restrictive visa application requirements compared to other countries were also a problem, she said.
“While there might be some difficult times ahead, we are confident that the quality of our education will continue to attract students from overseas.”
Geelong Otway Tourism executive director Roger Grant also pointed to foreign media portrayal of violence on Melbourne streets as impacting on Geelong universities.
Several Indian students have been violently assaulted over the past 12 months, forcing Victorian Premier John Brumby to fly to India in September to promote Melbourne as a safe place to live.
“We are suffering from some of the bad publicity associated with how some of the students have found the experience in Australia – I don’t think (Geelong) is immune to it,” Mr Grant said.
International students spent several thousand dollars every year, he said.
Committee For Geelong executive director Peter Dorling believed Geelong has been “exemplary” in avoiding racist attacks.
Mr Dorling was confident Deakin would honour a commitment to the burgeoning Indian education market.
“The good thing about Deakin is that it has such strong links to India and it has a presence with the vice-chancellor often visiting India,” he said.