University Policy Briefing Paper on International Student Safety

This policy briefing paper addresses the safety of international students in Australia, highlighting increasing numbers and the lack of effective policies to ensure their security. It discusses challenges like robberies, physical attacks, and racial threats faced by students both on and off-campus. The paper analyzes the current situation, where universities are treating international students as 'cash cows,' and proposes solutions such as addressing public safety issues, implementing better mentoring programs, and enforcing strict actions against harassment. The paper concludes that continuous monitoring of foreign student safety is essential, and suggests that the Department of Education and Training needs to address these issues to maintain Australia's reputation as a safe and welcoming destination for international students.

Policy briefing paper

Contents
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.....................................................................................................................3
SUMMARY OF SOCIAL POLICY CHALLENGE...................................................................................3
IDENTIFICATION OF AVAILABLE OPTIONS......................................................................................4
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................6

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The briefing paper will discuss about the safety of foreign students who are studying in
Australia. Numbers of foreign students is continuously increasing but Department of Education
and Training does not have any effective policy to assure student’s safety. Attacks on foreign
students were at the peak at the end of last decade but because of strict implementation of the
regulation these case dropped significantly (Addressing violence against international students,
2020). But now, with increasing number of foreign students, old issues may again come in
limelight as recent attacks in Universities shows that international learners are not safe. This
briefing paper will provide basic idea to Department of Education and Training about real
challenges and potential threats to the safety of foreign students and some suggestions to
overcoming the issue.
SUMMARY OF SOCIAL POLICY CHALLENGE
Australia is considered as one of the best options for University education, current
education export stands at $37.6 billion approx. after seeing growth of around 15%. But if
Department of Education will not work on improving current policies then country can lose an
important source of foreign income. Below are few of challenges which are needed to be
addressed on priority basis:
Robberies and Physical attacks – Although the number of attacks on International
students has gone down in last 10 years but still their many cases, even in major cities like
Melbourne, where these learners are facing issues like theft of their belongings and violence also
(Recent campus attacks show universities need to do more to protect international students,
2020). The number of cases is less but ramification is not in favor of whole education system.
The main challenge for Department of Education is that culprit normally belongs to a group or
individual native student. Students does take counseling services seriously which are offered by
Universities for addressing these issues.
Living in local communities – The main reason behind sharp decline in the cases of
violence against international students is that Universities has taken many steps to assure their
security; they installed cameras, emergency phone number and patrolling also. But all these

measures are limited to University campus. Learners have to face racial threats in outer world
and especially in the locality where they are living. Many foreign students admit that they do not
feel safe at night and in public transports also (Azmat and et al., 2013). Sexual gestures, groping
and vulgar comments are normal for female learners in public transport. Authorities are not
taking these incidents seriously because they are considering it a “small issue”. Changing
mentality of whole society can be considered as the biggest challenge if Australian government
wants to provide safety to international students. All the policies made by Department of
education are limited to Campus; none of them addresses that issues which learners face in local
communities. Many economically backwards students does not get good quality of life in
Australia, they do not get proper space for living or studying. Government may think that it is
their personal problem and this thinking clearly depicts the flaws which are present in current
policies.
Treating international students as Cash Cow – Universities has earned lot of money
from foreign learners and it helped them in creating world class infrastructure and research
center. But now they are considering these students “Cash Cow” which is basically helping them
in increasing University’s profits. It is true that education institutions need funds to run properly
and provide good facilities to students but these learners cannot be considered solely considered
as a “money minting machine”. Current policy does not consider this problem as a major issue
and it does not provide any solution to this point.
IDENTIFICATION OF AVAILABLE OPTIONS
Continuous monitoring of policies is essential in order to make changes in them at correct
point of time. Department of education also has to make some changes in their existing policies
so they can provide more safety to the international students (Paltridge, Mayson and Schapper,
2014). Below are few suggestions which may provide solution to entangled problems:
Address public safety issue – Universities can end the time of night classes as this will
reduce night travels; key concern f many female foreign learners. Department of education can
introduce a policy where night classes are not allowed; and if even special circumstances the
University is organizing them they have to drop all the students to their home. Government
institutions like Transportation and Education department can work together and make a policy

where any kind of harassment in the bus/train should be reported to College so they can take this
matter to the local police. Another major change can be related to compulsory defense classes for
international students. No one can assure complete safety to learners but if they will have ability
safe themselves then it will definitely assure their safety.
Better mentoring programs – New students are considered as most vulnerable in terms
of safety issue as they are not aware of the environment, culture and people. Department of
Education and Training can add a clause in updated policy where every new student will get a
mentoring program (Sawir, 2013). They will get opportunity to make new connections and learn
about survival in University. Although some Universities are already running this program but it
is still not compulsory from the side of Government.
Strict actions in harassment cases – People who are involved in physical attack and
other activities relating to harassment will not learn lesson unless they go to jail for their
wrongdoing. Education and Training department should request Government to make some
amendments in the law. Strict punishment in case of security of international students should be
proposed by this body so they can build some fear in people relating o this matter.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that regular monitoring of foreign
student’s safety is necessary for providing them full security. Australia achieved success in
reducing the violence related to cases against international learners but if Department of
Education and Training will find and address latest issues then they may face same problems
again.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Azmat, F & et al. (2013). Understanding aspirations and expectations of international students in
Australian higher education. Asia Pacific Journal of Education. 33(1). 97-111.
Paltridge, T., Mayson, S., & Schapper, J. (2014). Welcome and exclusion: An analysis of The
Australian newspaper’s coverage of international students. Higher Education. 68(1). 103-
116.
Sawir, E. (2013). Internationalisation of higher education curriculum: The contribution of
international students. Globalisation, Societies and Education. 11(3). 359-378.
Online
Recent campus attacks show universities need to do more to protect international students. 2020.
[Online]. Available through < https://theconversation.com/recent-campus-attacks-show-
universities-need-to-do-more-to-protect-international-students-120082 >.
Addressing violence against international students. 2020. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-07-15/35354>.