With a few notable exceptions, foreign students study at Australian universities because they want to get good 
Australian jobs. Later on in life they may discover the esoteric heights of knowledge and even embrace an academic life. When they are young it is all about jam today though, as Australian educators are discovering to their shock.
Australia is a young nation filling out its population and topping up its skills. Because it is so spread out it battles to keep its universities cost effective, and so tops up its student numbers by attracting foreign students. Until recently it was quite generous to those who wanted to stay on after graduating and make Australia their home. In this respect Chinese students were favored because Australia’s foreign trade relies heavily on China and so f
ew Australians speak Mandarin.
This joined-up policy between education and immigration has been good for the Australian education industry. Student agencies have sprung up, more classrooms have been needed, and more computers too. This escalating business is suddenly under threat as Australia tightens immigration rules in response to higher unemployment at home
The situation is hardly being helped by more effective competition for Chinese students from North America and Britain, and the rising cost of tertiary education in Australia. A beleaguered government raiding its war chest for flood 
relief is also having difficulty persuading citizens that they should subsidize the education of foreigners either, when some of them have no jobs themselves.
This is cause for concern about the short-term viability of some of Australia’s venerable universities. To achieve long term population targets the nation needs more skills than it can produce among its locals. While politicians quibble student agencies in China are directing students to other countries where the fields seem greener. What will Australian Universities do to compete in these tough times? It seems there is no easy answer for them either.
