Guest blog by Alan Olsen, Director of Strategy Policy and Research in Education
Australian Outbound Mobility: Snapshot is the August 2013 snapshot of outbound mobility or study abroad from Australian universities. One in eight Australian undergraduates studies overseas: 12.3% of completing Australian undergraduates in Australian universities undertake international study experiences. 6.5% of international study experiences from Australia are for a year, 36.7% for a semester and 56.8% for less than a semester. 37% of international study experiences are to Europe, 33% to Asia and 23% to the Americas.
Australia has created a typology of six types of international study experiences: Semester or Year Exchanges, Other Semester or Year Programs, Short Term Programs of less than one semester including study tours and language tours, Placements or Practical Training including internships or clinical placements, Research and Other. In 2011, 94.3% of all these experiences were for credit.
Americas 36% and Europe 47% dominate as destinations for exchanges and other long experiences. Only 15% are to Asia. US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, ahead of China, are the top six destinations. US, UK and Canada account for 47% of destinations for exchanges and other long experiences. Asia dominates short term programs, with 52% to Asia and another 3% to Oceania. 32% go to Europe. China, Italy, US, India, France, Indonesia are the top six destinations. To a lesser extent Asia also dominates internships or practical training experiences, with 44% to Asia and another 8% to Oceania. 22% go to Europe and 17% to the Americas. US, UK, Germany, India, Singapore, Malaysia are the top six destinations, ahead of China.
Short term international study programs and international placements are important in diversifying Australian student mobility away from the Americas and Europe, specifically away from international student exchanges with US, UK and Canada, where students can study in English at a western university, presumably bringing back to the Australian university credit for four subjects just like they would have studied in Australia.
Any prescription that international study experiences must be for at least a semester would tend to impose a US centric model on all international study destinations globally. Such a prescription also would have the effect potentially of writing off as valueless 82% of all Australian international study experiences to Asia including 85% of all experiences to China.
Australian Outbound Mobility: Snapshot is the August 2013 snapshot of outbound mobility or study abroad from Australian universities. One in eight Australian undergraduates studies overseas: 12.3% of completing Australian undergraduates in Australian universities undertake international study experiences. 6.5% of international study experiences from Australia are for a year, 36.7% for a semester and 56.8% for less than a semester. 37% of international study experiences are to Europe, 33% to Asia and 23% to the Americas.
Australia has created a typology of six types of international study experiences: Semester or Year Exchanges, Other Semester or Year Programs, Short Term Programs of less than one semester including study tours and language tours, Placements or Practical Training including internships or clinical placements, Research and Other. In 2011, 94.3% of all these experiences were for credit.
Americas 36% and Europe 47% dominate as destinations for exchanges and other long experiences. Only 15% are to Asia. US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, ahead of China, are the top six destinations. US, UK and Canada account for 47% of destinations for exchanges and other long experiences. Asia dominates short term programs, with 52% to Asia and another 3% to Oceania. 32% go to Europe. China, Italy, US, India, France, Indonesia are the top six destinations. To a lesser extent Asia also dominates internships or practical training experiences, with 44% to Asia and another 8% to Oceania. 22% go to Europe and 17% to the Americas. US, UK, Germany, India, Singapore, Malaysia are the top six destinations, ahead of China.
Short term international study programs and international placements are important in diversifying Australian student mobility away from the Americas and Europe, specifically away from international student exchanges with US, UK and Canada, where students can study in English at a western university, presumably bringing back to the Australian university credit for four subjects just like they would have studied in Australia.
Any prescription that international study experiences must be for at least a semester would tend to impose a US centric model on all international study destinations globally. Such a prescription also would have the effect potentially of writing off as valueless 82% of all Australian international study experiences to Asia including 85% of all experiences to China.