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`International students enhance campus life'

Robin King

He hails from the University of South Australia, which has over 30,000 students including 2,000 postgraduates spread over five campuses.

It is an institution that the Committee of Quality Assurance for Higher Education (CQAHE) has ranked among the top Australian universities, for both teaching and community service. Students on the campuses study applied science, engineering, health sciences, management, commerce, teacher education, social sciences, art and design. On a short visit to Coimbatore, Robin King, Pro Vice-Chancellor and vice-president, Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, University of South Australia (UniSA), spoke to A. A. Michael Raj about the importance of students from many nations on a cosmopolitan campus.

No part of the world of academics can afford to remain isolated.

"Having international education is a good thing. People from different countries working together enriches their experience," said Prof. King, who had come to India with a team of UniSA academics.

"Gaining different experiences and knowledge is valuable. Australian students may work outside Australia and knowing about people from other countries will help them when they start a career."

International students paid higher fees and brought "significant revenue" to Australian universities. Australian students paid less, because the Government subsidised them.

International revenue for the university was about 25 per cent, research income about 10 to 15 per cent, and consultancy about five per cent.

He said that UniSA helped students from abroad find suitable accommodation, adjust to daily life in Australia and make full use of all the facilities on the campus in order to study well.

There was also help for students who opted for part-time employment when doing their courses.

A system of academic audit by an independent group established for the purpose ensured that the quality of education remained high in the Australian academic environment.

Most of the Indian students at UniSA were young men doing postgraduate degrees in engineering and information technology.

Indians seemed to get along very well with the locals, for there was much to interest them in Australian culture.

"They dominate the UniSA cricket team and play in the local cricket clubs," he said. Cricket strengthened the bonds between young people of both countries.

UniSA was ranked high for its research activity that had strong links with industry, he said. Consequently, students knew what to expect when they passed out of the institution and began a career.

"The university has several areas of interest. This includes natural and built environment, besides a whole lot of connected issues on the impact of climate change. Then there is energy, transport, urban planning and reduction of contamination. We have an integrated approach to all those areas," he observed.

Prof. King said that there were several opportunities for student exchange between institutions in India and Australia, perhaps for a semester, especially for senior students in undergraduate programmes.

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