Challenges Faced by International Students in Australia: A Research Report

This research report focuses on the challenges faced by international students in Australia and provides recommendations to improve their experience. It covers health issues, student interaction, social cultural factors, and information systems used in institutions.

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Executive summary
Australia hosts more than four hundred thousand international students in its tertiary
institutions and this makes it one of the biggest global destinations for international
students from overseas. Some of students travel to Australia for vocational education
training others for English language learning and some are admitted to university
annually to take courses offered. Most information about Australian Education system
is spread by word of mouth and most students form part of the good ambassadors that
spread their education experience in Australia .The findings in this research report
indicated positive results ,however ,the conducted survey showed that improvements
must be made in the following areas including and not limited to interaction of

international students with the Australian students and how it should be
developed ,students support system such as offering financial aid to students as well
as developing opportunity to international students through improving their talents
and allowing them to partake in different activities as this will help them in future and
especially in their career life .Government of Australia Government has been captured
in this research report .In order to create good understanding and coming up with best
ideas to boost the experience of international students, their support system and job
experience ,a research was conducted focusing on forty one groups in the year two
thousand and eleven across Australia .The focus groups included international tertiary
institutions, vocational education training centers as well as university students. The
study was held at Western Australia department of education service, city of
Melbourne, Adelaide New South Wales branch of ISANA as well as Perth.
Table of Contents
Executive summary.............................................................................................................................1
Introduction.........................................................................................................................................2
Information to the new institution CEO.............................................................................................3
Health Issues...................................................................................................................................3
Student’s interaction........................................................................................................................4
Social Cultural factors.....................................................................................................................5
Analysis of the study...........................................................................................................................5
International student trends.............................................................................................................6
PESTLE Analysis................................................................................................................................6
Information system used in AH/B College.........................................................................................7
Management information systems..................................................................................................8
Finance management system..........................................................................................................8
Point of sale software......................................................................................................................8
Decision support system.................................................................................................................8
How to ensure that the student privacy interference is managed.......................................................9
How to manage organizational information security..........................................................................9
Research recommendations.................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................10

References.........................................................................................................................................11
Introduction
Australian international student studying industry is one of the most lucrative and it is
very complex .This report study introduction gives as a picture of the situation at hand
in the international study industry as well as the stakeholders responsible for the
activities relating to Australian international students. The industry of international
study is one of the third biggest Australian export and amount to around 16 US dollars
in the year 2010 and 2011 according to Australian Bureau Statistics of 2011.
The industry has also created employment for Australian citizens. Application to study
in Australia spread across vocational training institutions, English learning centers,
universities and other higher education centers .There had been a notable decline in
the industry from the year 2009 .However, there have been a notable increase in
enrollment of international students and the industry is generating revenue for the
country led by New South Wales which received most students followed by Victoria.
International students lead to good earning for institutions compared to domestic
student’s .This is because most domestic students' fee is subsided by common Wealth
scheme or loans while the international students pay fully for their education fee and
maintenance upkeep. There are varying concerns to the decrease in admission of
international students and this is caused by various factors such as safety of students.
The stakeholders in education encourage more investment in public universities to
attract more international students.
Information to the new institution CEO

The CEO of the new campus is however required to address certain issues that the
international students are likely to face as they join the new institution. These issues
either affect them directly or indirectly. They include;
Health Issues
During the research study, we discovered that some of the health issues that affected
international students and should be addressed first by the CEO are;
Sexual health
Under this we discovered that there was problem on matters regarding to
contraceptives, early marriages and sexually transmitted infections .The areas affected
by this included and were not limited to Victoria ,city of Melbourne ,South Australia,
Western Australia and northern territory .
Anxiety and stress
Most international students are likely to get stressed .We discovered during research
that some of were stressed due the rise in cost of living and increase in academic fee.
Skin conditions
Most new students experienced skin issues due to the change in climate and whether
conditions .very cold temperatures and low humidity causes their skin to be dry and
itchy.
Respiratory diseases and infection
Respiratory infections such as common cold and flu are very rampant in areas around
Perth, South Wales and Sidney.
Chronic condition.
Some of the chronic conditions that students experienced were diabetes, HIV and

AIDS and hypertension.
Student’s interaction
Most students have a problem interacting with Australian students due barriers such as
language and racism .some students cannot speak English fluently and this makes
them think that they are intimidated by other students .International students also fear
that they are discriminated against by the Australian students
Social Cultural factors
The international students are likely to affect by the different culture of Australia
which they might not be familiar with. This affects the student’s social life.
In order to understand the ideas as well as the experiences and views of international
students, from diverse communities, focus groups were identified and the study was
held on international students and domestic students as well as their stuff in the
tertiary institutions.
Analysis of the study
At the time if study all the participants were 18years or older .The study on focus
groups was conducted in two waves and the first wave covered Australia followed by
Queensland. It was help between April and March in the year 2011.
Afterwards, it was followed closely by the second wave which covered Victoria,
Western Australia and New South Wales in the month of August the year being
2011.we had a close relationship with our partners and we would like to appreciate
and acknowledge them for their help .Adelaide, WA department of education services,
the city of Melbourne among other institutions.
Our partners helped us to distribute information about our project and also encouraged

students, support stuff and their tutors to participate in the project.
The focus groups had their audio recorded with their permission and others had their
quotes also recorded.
For example, one of the international students said "All this time, I didn't know that
support system existed for international students, if I had known I would have utilized
the opportunity ".
International student trends
Most learning institutions from training institutions to universities in Melbourne have
currently been receiving more new students both from the local and international.
According to Dongeun Shin and Choi keumjin (2012) the trend observed has led most
of the institutions to open more university branches that accommodates the increasing
number of students in the country. The students prefer joining the new branches to
avoid congestion from main learning institutions. Different countries now prefer
sending its students to Australia for them to undertake advance courses. A large
number of international students pursuing degree courses have been identified to join
Australian universities; they are a high leading number followed by those students
pursuing doctorate and PHD courses.
PESTLE Analysis
Various factors have also been identified and they also draw a great impact on the
international student’s trends. The factors can either be; political, economic,
technological, legal and environmental factors.
Political factors
The political instability when it occurs may lead to clashes that affect the international

student’s safety in the country of study. Students may not understand the politics
trends of the country, therefore ending up interfering with the whole trend and
curriculum timetable.
Technological factors
Rapid change in technology creates a great impact in learning institutions. Most
Australian learning institutions have embraced this rapid change which international
students are required to cope up with also.
Environmental factors
The differences in demographics sometimes affect foreign students. This is because
they might not be used to the changes. It therefore affect the learning trend at a greater
extend.
Legal factors
The laws and regulation of each country are different. International students might
take longer to understand the country’s laws and regulation before they cope up with
it.
Information system used in AH/B College
After conducting research ,we discovered that AH/B collage uses integrated
information network system which was made using complex devises .The integrated
information systems captures all information about the student academic life as well
as their campus life .
Like other institutions ,AH/B collage use identification cards to verify students .The
identity cards are demanded at the school entrance ,at the school cattery as well as
library and computer laboratories .

The college also uses PC to allow students to register for classes. Registration is done
depending on courses registered for .class attendance timetable is programmed in the
computer and students use this during registration.
Important notices such as cancellation of classes are shown on the bulletin board in
the lectures halls.
I recommended these information systems to be used in new emerging campus since
it is very efficient and this will make it attract more students hence increasing
revenues and profits.
Management information systems
It is commonly known as MIS. It is an integrated management system which enables
institutions manages communication and share information efficiently and effectively.
Administration departments majorly handle most activities of learning institutions
including information sharing and management. If a good integrated management
system is put in place, sending of messages, receiving the messages, processing it and
giving feedbacks of the messages received will be made easier. This is because ,it is
the systems that provide information to the management .The system is vital in
campuses and other industries due to its role and impact on smoothing the running of
institution’s sharing of information. Institutions should therefore adopt the use of
simple information management systems that will make its overall operations
effective and efficient. This later leads to high income and profits since it increases
efficiency in the institution’s operations.
Finance management system
The system is used by companies and educational institutions to control and manage

their budget. Costs incurred in various activities that take place in the institutions can
only be well budgeted and controlled by use of effective financial management
systems. The system helps in deciding and putting up better strategies on how to carry
out the various cost based activities in the institution. The system also helps the
institution to keep received payment transparently and keeps track of expenses. This
leads to high productivity of an institution and improve production.
Point of sale system
It is also known as POS system. It is used mostly in stations within an organization
where cash transaction takes place. The software is mostly located at students canteen
to enable them pay easily for the meals by use of ‘TAP AND PAY’ interface of the
POS system. They can as well use prepaid meal card on the same case. This action
results in efficient payment procedure hence making it more effective for the
management, whereby it is able to tell the common quantity of meal to purchase for
students which cuts on cost of meal purchased.
Decision support system
This is decision making software with various models including scoring, mix and
financial model. The system basically helps student in faculty selection and advice on
suitability of each one faculty to choose. The system helps to reduce cases of drop out
by students who find it difficult to complete a course selected. It allows students make
early decision before commencing a course. This leads to productivity of an
organization since problems are identified at an early stage and dealt with .The budget
of enrolling other students to replace a large number of drops out can be reduce if an

effective decision support system is put in place.
How to ensure that the student privacy interference is managed
Institutions should adopt relevant departments such as school privacy policy.
Institutions should abide with the laws regarding personal, medical information and
personal data.
Institution should operate in accordance with the freedom of information.
How to manage organizational information security
Despite the fact that there are many technical devices and innovation that can be used
to protect information security system an organization ,the problem of information
leaking from one place to another ,destruction and modification cannot be fully
managed according to Hina and Dominic (2018).
Institutions should come up with accurate and clear strategies that contribute to the
attainaning of goals of the school.
Complex information security program which will comprise of persons, procedures
and technology advancement should be developed.
Research recommendations
Institutions should come up with measure to govern information systems used in
schools so as to avoid leakage of personal information.
International students should be taught native language of the host countries so as
to promote interaction and confidence international students should be vaccinated
against common disease such as common flu.
Awareness should be created concerning student support system to international
students.

Contraceptives and emergency pills should be given to students to avoid unexpected
pregnancies during study.
Conclusion
In conclusion, information system is very important in institutions since the make the
running of the organization efficient and increase the productivity and profits of an
organization.
International students concerns must be addressed so that the institutions continue
expecting students from international countries.
References
Dongeun Shin and Choi keumjin (2012). Comparison of Accreditation System and
Criteria of Engineering Technological Education in Korea, USA and
Australia. Journal of Engineering Education Research, 15(6), pp.58-70.
Hina, S. and Dominic, P. (2018). Information security policies’ compliance: a
perspective for higher education institutions. Journal of Computer Information
Systems, pp.1-11.