RI student numbers in Australia fall
Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Tanjung Benoa, Bali
The number of Indonesian studying in Australia has been declining over the last few years due to visa, social, economic and political problems, an education expert has claimed.
Isla Rogers-Winarto, country director of IDP Education Australia, told participants at the two-day Indonesia Australian Business Conference at the Conrad Bali Resort and Spa here on Monday, that there are now 18,102 Indonesian students currently studying in Indonesia, down from 20,336 students in 2003.
While Australia remains the number one study destination for Indonesian students, the significant fall in the number of enrollments should be taken seriously by Australian education institutions.
IDP's survey, covering more than 2,000 Indonesian students in 2004, recently indicated the main reasons for the downturn.
The increasing value of Australian dollar and increasing tuition fees charged by Australian universities are among the major problems.
Concerns over racism and antagonism towards Muslims that targeted Indonesian communities has also seriously affected enrollments.
Over the last couple of years, Australia has gradually lost its attractiveness and competitiveness in the world of education because there are greater opportunities elsewhere in the region.
"More and more countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia are now offering and marketing their education facilities to Indonesian students," Winarto said.
The United States, for instance, has been offering easier processing of student visas since 2004.
The U.S. also allows foreign students to work in the country while they pursue their education.
Similarly, the United Kingdom also offers easier access for overseas students, allowing them to work up to 20 hours a week -- enough for them to supplement their allowances.
On the other hand, Australia strictly forbids foreign students to work.
Many experts have revealed the significant role that education plays in bridging the differences among governments and peoples of the two countries, so efforts to ease visa procedures and decrease tuition fees are badly needed.
Michael Fay, associate director of ASEAN Focus, has called on private and government-owned institutions to work harder and to provide more opportunities for Indonesian students, teachers and lecturers to study in Australia.
"Yes, it is true that there are many Indonesian students in Australia, but most of them are rich Chinese Indonesians who can afford education in Australia," Fay said, adding that there should be more effort to attract bright Indonesian students under various government and private assistance programs.
He also called on the Australian government to allow Australian students to visit Indonesia, and to lift travel advisories to provide them with cultural, social and political understanding about Indonesia.
Travel advisories and strict visa processing by Australia against Indonesia are two of the major concerns raised by Indonesian officials during the two-day business conference, saying that it does not fit with the spirit of improving flows of people between the two countries.