EXPLORATION TO INTERNATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION - EXPERIENCING SHARING ON INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

2019-01-07

In recent years, the government has started to actively encourage institutions to go to New Southbound countries to recruit international students to solve the problems of not having enough students due to the low birth rate. It is expected that institutions not only can expand the exchange of international, but also strengthen the competitive in international development. However, while advancing to the New Southbound countries, we must understand the education status and systems of various countries in order to plan a perfect enrollment strategy. Therefore, Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA) invited Vice President Lan from University of Western Sydney, Australia, which has grown rapidly in recent years to talk about the topic "International Admissions Strategy and Development".

Vice President Lan first introduced the University of Western Sydney, which is ranked as the first hundred institution in the world. The University of Western Sydney was founded in 1989 and is about to reach 30th anniversary this year; currently the university has 10 faculties located at 11 campuses to accommodate 46,000 students, including around 6,000 foreign students from 130 countries. The institution has worked actively in the exchange and interaction with other international higher educational institutions.

How can a new university catch up and grow steadily in the wave of globalization? Vice President Lan believes that "Education Internationalization” is a very critical factor. However, internationalization is not only a slogan, it must be integrated with education goals to covers the perspectives of curriculum design, teaching, students’ extracurricular activities, research and academic activities, international exchanges of faculties, students and administrators, cross-border teaching, international cooperation and etc.

Vice President Lan particularly mentioned that universities in Australia have seen internationalization as an industry and had complete strategic approaches for it. For example, a lot of studies were done when University of Western Sydney was working on the evaluation for choosing the southeast Asian center and Vietnam was finally selected as the base for further cultivation. The main reason is that 70% of the population was under 30 years old; therefore, the market demand for higher education is high, and Vietnam is also a relatively developed country in Southeast Asia area.

Talking about how to recruit students in Southeast Asia, Vice President Lan believes that "partnership" is very important, only the win-win situation with mutual benefit can last forever. The University of Western Sydney firstly cooperated with University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam by MOU signing; at the beginning, it offered only a doctoral program in business administration instead of a bachelor's degree program and the instructors all came from the University of Western Sydney. The students can complete the studies and obtain PhD degree from the University of Western Sydney and this cooperation has lasted 11 years till now. The responsible personnel from both sides still serve in their respective institutions, and they have cultivated excellent mutual understanding and trust. Now the University of West Sydney not only owns a building in University of Economics Ho Chi Ming City, but also under the preparation of turning the building into their Southeast Asian education center.

In conclusion, a series of meticulous strategies shall be planned in ahead if Taiwanese colleges and universities want to recruit more international students; for example, how to enhance their international rankings and obtain international accreditation for programs. In the same time, to learn from the University of West Sydney to establish a dedicated department responsible for the recruitment for international students can be more engaged and specialized, including the establishment of partner universities. It is believed that the institution’s internationalization can be improved and long lasting if all these aspects can be covered.