Recruiting International Students: Focus on India

This article discusses the importance of recruiting international students, particularly from India, for Australian universities. It highlights the potential of the Indian market and suggests strategies such as tie-ups with schools and colleges, online presence, and alumni networks to attract more students. The article also emphasizes the need to focus on second-tier cities in India and promote scholarship programs to encourage more students from economically challenged backgrounds to participate in higher education.

Running head: Principles of international business
Principles of International Business
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
In the process of growth, it is vital for universities to enroll more students. However,
as an international responsibility, Universities should also focus on enrolling international
students. Currently there are 2000 International students in Australia, and the University
plans to increase the capacity by another 30% (adding 600 more international students).I
think, the university should focus on recruiting these 600 students from India.
Reasons:
Universities should focus their recruitment campaigns on Indian students. The
Australian universities are not even on the radar of the Indian students who are planning to
study abroad. With tertiary education being a significant export of Australia, capturing a
market worth of Aus$30 billion and 500,000 foreign students enrolled, India represents only
11% of these students and China forming the majority. In such context, it might be helpful for
Australian universities to build ties with ‘portfolio’ of countries, and expand its student base
beyond just China. Even though Australia has strong ties with China, focusing on having a
portfolio of countries can be helpful since given the economic turmoil, it is difficult to predict
economy of which country might go up or down in the future. Moreover, considering that
most of the students aspiring to study abroad can speak English, can be allow them to
acclimatize with the Australian society faster. The University should focus on the second tier
Indian cities, since most of the students from the first tier cities aim to study in Universities in
the US or Europe.
Moreover, focusing on Indian students can be a strategic decision considering the
recent partnership in education between Australia and India, with the Indian government
pledging to provide training to 400 million of its citizens by 2022 and university education to

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6 million or 30% of its youth population. This makes India a significant market for the
universities.
Strategy for getting students from India:
The strategy that can be used to get more students from the second tier cities in India
can be through tie-ups and affiliations with schools, colleges and universities in those cities,
and increasing the awareness of Universities as well as the courses they offer among Indian
students. Additionally, promotion of scholarship programs can be done to encourage more
students from economically challenged backgrounds to participate in higher education.
Considering such aspects, I strongly advice that the additional 30% students (amounting to
600 students) should be recruited from India, especially focusing on the second tier cities.
Four strategies can be considered for this:
a) Increasing the presence of Australian Universities in India through campaigns in
Indian campuses, highlighting the higher study courses offered by Australian
Universities. Also, using international alumni to tell their stories to the inspiring
students, highlighting the benefits of attending Australian Universities for higher
education. Their messages can be spread in the form of videos and testimonials,
and their success can serve as an inspiration to the students.
b) Increasing the online presence and providing a virtual experience of Australian
campuses. Allowing the students to take a virtual tour of the university campus,
can help the students to showcase it to their family and friends, and help them to
decide on which campus they want to study. This also eliminates the need of the
student to travel from India to Australia to know how the College/University
Campuses are.

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c) Creating Communities including existing and former students from India studying
in Australia, promoting their experiences in Australia, and also giving important
information regarding the culture and help the new students to visit their alma
mater. This can be achieved on both social media and personal platforms.
Facilitating the new and prospective students to reach out to the alumnus and
enrolled students from India, can help to create this interactive network of
students.
d) Affiliations and tie-ups: Tie ups and affiliations with colleges and schools in India
can help have direct access to students, which can allow the university
administration to select the students based on their merits. The university can also
include grants and scholarships to deserving students who cannot afford a foreign
education, and thus encourage more students. The affiliations can also ensure that
the students in India become aware of the Australian universities and the course
they offer, apart from the advantages they can have studying in Australia.