The University of Queensland has attracted a record intake of new overseas students for first semester 1997.
The University also has an unprecedented number of 78 students participating in exchange programs with tertiary institutions in the USA, Europe and Asia in 1997. The figure is up from a total of 45 students in 1996.
A total of 690 new undergraduate, postgraduate and non-award students from overseas is enrolled - up from a total of 610 students in first semester last year.
The intake is yet to be finalised as more postgraduate overseas students can commence studies at any time during the academic year.
In addition, the University already has 910 continuing international students and 400 students in English language and preparatory programs.
International students come from more than 80 different countries to the University, which has institutional links with more than 100 universities in North America, Europe and Asia. The majority of degree students come from Singapore, with 326 enrolments.
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the University was on track to double its intake of overseas fee-paying students in less than four years, building on a long tradition as an international education provider.
'The very presence of overseas students in the University enhances our intellectual, social and cultural diversity and furthers our ambition to be recognised as a genuinely international university,' he said.
'The University is committed to further internationalising its operations and outlook both by building institutional links and by increasing the numbers of high quality international students choosing to study here.'
The University had embarked upon a series of strategic recruitment initiatives to target larger numbers of appropriately-qualified prospective overseas students.
New overseas student intake target figures have been established for each of the seven faculties, together with a revised revenue distribution formula. These initiatives are expected to result in greater returns to departments and schools once targets have been met, and will also recognise the real costs of recruiting and administering overseas fee-paying students, according to Professor Hay.
The faculty-based initiatives will be co-ordinated within University-wide practices and policies.
Professor Hay said articulation arrangements with TAFE institutions were being revised, to come in line with best practice in other major universities.
'This will give the University access to a cohort of high-ability international students presently studying in this country,' Professor Hay said.
Professor Hay said strong competition among Australian universities to recruit overseas students had been further intensified by aggressive recruitment activities of some British and North American universities.
The University of Queensland was more successful than most Australian universities in attracting very able North American students, usually for semester or year-long courses rather than complete degrees, he said.
The University aimed to expand its recruitment programs and alumni networks in South-East Asia.
'However, the University will not seek to recruit less able students, or reduce its strong performance in attracting graduate and research students from overseas,' Professor Hay said.
For more information, contact Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay (telephone 07 3365 1300).
