Australian
universities carry out a multifaceted role in Australian
society, central to which is the creation, preservation
and transmission of knowledge and culture. While the teaching
of undergraduates is at the heart of the university role,
it cannot be separated from the other and related functions
of scholarship, research, postgraduate education, consultancy
and, through the provision of expert advice and comment
on the range of issues of national and international importance,
contribution to community awareness and debate. The undergraduate
curriculum maintains its vitality and relevance by drawing
on ideas and technology from the cutting edge of research.
A primary mission of each university is to seek the highest
quality of performance, to maintain enduring standards,
and to preserve knowledge and culture in the broadest sense.
Universities, therefore, have long-term perspectives which
are crucial components in the maintenance of community continuity
and stability. Such long-term perspectives become very important
resources in the setting and analysis of national priorities.
While these functions are performed by the Australian university
system as a whole, each university participates in distinctive
ways, with different emphasis on different aspects of each
of these functions, depending on its own institutional role
and mission.
Diversity
The
components of the Australian university system are diverse.
That diversity, which extends to the specific roles of the
institutions, the modes of teaching and research, the constitution
of the student body and the range of educational programs,
is essential to the long-term vigour of the university system.
There is necessarily a range of differences in quality between
and within universities, that inputs system, disciplines
and different modes of delivery.
A diverse system is one that can most quickly and effectively
adapt to changing circumstances. There is a history of compelling
evidence that the education of graduates of Australian universities
provides them with the capacity to respond flexibly to the
changing requirements of the labour market.
International Standing
Higher education in Australia has long enjoyed a well-deserved
high international reputation, in which quality across the
system has been the touchstone. Australian universities
are part of a clearly recognised international community
of scholarship, the foundations of which are creation, preservation
and dissemination of knowledge. Academic staff in Australian
universities are recruited on an international basis, and
Australian academic staff and graduates are eagerly recruited
around the world. Students at Australian universities are
increasingly recruited on an international, as well as a
national basis.
The ready acceptance by leading international universities
of graduates from Australian universities for postgraduate
studies provides a clear indicator of the universal acceptance
of the quality output of Australian universities. To a large
extent it is this inbuilt aspiration for international recognition
which provides continuing assurance of its quality and standards.
Higher Education System
The higher education system in Australia is a relatively
large one for a nation of 18 million people. There are 37
universities and a number of other institutions that provide
higher education courses of some type.
The total number of students enrolled in higher education
is about 680,000, made up of full-time, part-time and external
students. More than half are full-time students, most of
whom live off-campus and travel each day to their institutions.
There are about 68,000 international students now studying
at higher education institutions. Student life is a mixture
of lectures, tutorials and seminars, plus individual work
in laboratories and libraries. There is a range of extracurricular
activities to engage in during the academic year, which
runs from late February or early March to November. Increasingly,
the institutions also accept enrolments in midyear.
Universities provide courses and conduct research in a
wide range of professional and academic disciplines. They
award associate diplomas, diplomas, bachelors, masters and
doctoral degrees, and postgraduate diplomas. Some institutions
provide specialist training in health sciences or teacher
education. Universities recognise the awards of each other.
So, for example, a person awarded a bachelors degree by
one institution could be accepted for entry to a masters
degree program by another.
There is a diversity in the structure of course programs.
In the more technical fields, such as engineering, medicine
and science, there are more hours of lectures, tutorials
and practical classes than in the humanities and social
sciences, where students are expected to spend more time
in individual reading and research.
International students need fluency in the English language
if they are to succeed at an Australian campus. They must
also be prepared to learn to use the library efficiently,
because they are expected to read and research widely. Courses
to assist international students are the English language
preparatory and upgrading courses, and in particular the
ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas
Students). These are available in Australia at public and
private institutions. At universities, more emphasis is
placed on understanding and applying concepts and theories,
and being able to examine critically different arguments
and viewpoints, than on rote learning. Students are expected
to participate in class discussions, and to ask questions
if they do not understand something. It is not considered
bad manners for students to express views differently from
those of their teachers, and many lecturers deliberately
provoke discussion and argument to shed more light on a
subject.
To be a successful student in Australia, it is necessary
to adapt to these methods of learning. Most institutions
in Australia offer counselling services and assistance to
develop effective study skills.
Many lecturers in Australia have long experience in teaching
international students. They understand how difficult it
can be for the international student to get used to different
study methods, and they will be patient in helping the student
in the development of new skills.
The quality of Australian university qualifications is
recognised worldwide. Recognition of Australian qualifications
for employment purposes in the student's home country should
also be taken into consideration. Before embarking upon
a professional Australian course, prospective students should
ensure that the desired qualification is fully recognised
at home.
Author
Stuart Hamilton
AVCC
Acquiring
a qualification from an Australian institution can be incredibly
beneficial, so there are many reasons why international
students choose to study there!
