http://bulletin.studylink.com/archive/index.php/t-1458.html
Students complain at the Melbourne campus of the Central Queensland University.
Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones
Related coverage
� YOUR SAY Overseas students
By David Rood
March 14, 2006
AT 10 o'clock yesterday morning, a group of international students at the Melbourne campus of Central Queensland University told the media that they were planning to start a hunger strike.
They accused the university of treating them as "cash cows", interested only in their money.
Within hours it was called off � the students were under the mistaken impression that protesting would threaten their visas � but their concerns remained.
The students' claims came after 62 per cent of them failed a tax and accounting postgraduate subject at the Lonsdale Street campus. The students complained that they were tested on material not covered in lectures, were not given the opportunity to challenge their marks and suffer from substandard facilities � all claims that the university strongly disputes.
A representative of the 60 masters students said CQU treated the Melbourne campus like a bank rather than an education institution that was concerned about its students.
"When you compare us to RMIT or Monash, we don't have adequate facilities and libraries. They are just taking our money," the student said. CQU has the highest proportion of international students of any Australian university. Almost half of its 24,000 students are from overseas. The Melbourne campus has 3753 international and 100 domestic students.
They pay $24,000 for the two-year masters degree.
Melbourne campus executive dean Gus Geursen said while he was alarmed by the hunger strike threat, the university aimed to prepare students for life.
"The fact that 38 per cent of students passed the subject is evidence that the students were well prepared for the exam," he said. "Our standards are not low, our standards are high. This is not a backyard university."
Professor Geursen said students could apply to have their work marked a second time. He said he was confident CQU Melbourne students have the same access to resources and facilities, such as libraries, as students at other Victorian universities.
The academic programs at the Melbourne campus � faculty of business and informatics � are run by the university, but the campus is managed by a private company.
Former Victorian premier John Cain, who has researched city universities, said the campus did not have appropriate facilities for a tertiary institution.
"The university is detached physically by some thousands of kilometres from its base, giving its name and blessing to the courses but the campus is being run by a private company," he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/cash-cow-students-take-a-brief-stand-against-uni/2006/03/13/1142098405192.html
Hi,
This is the same way they failed me. How can so many international students just fail without a reason? The professor never gave me a reason for failing either. This news bit is solid proof of harassment of international students. Do not trust Australia for Education. India treats students much better.
There is one more proof that these people only want cash from students by failing them in one semester and then taking cash for another semester:
http://blogs.theage.com.au/yoursay/archives/2006/03/overseas_studen.html
learning.uow.edu.au/LAS2001/unrefereed/east.pdf
See for yourself how Australians treat Indians!!!
sorry now all schools
look at $
i did some small investigation on my own, this is not an isolated incident.
it happens in othe places too... But less likely in the more famous ones like the GR(8) ect...
All international students that gain entry into a university or highschool is to seek higher education so that they can get themselves a decent job in the future.
Universities and highschools are making heaps of money off the international students especially the government.
Glad I was born in Australia and got citizenship instantly =P
Originally posted by burndog85:All international students that gain entry into a university or highschool is to seek higher education so that they can get themselves a decent job in the future.
Universities and highschools are making heaps of money off the international students especially the government.
Glad I was born in Australia and got citizenship instantly =P
the dark side..
it is indeed through that high costs in Aus have resulted in substandard facilities.
What you said is true... International students in aust are treated like cash cows... Afterall, its called the australian education industry. Ie. to make money...
What i cannot comprehend is, why isn't singapore doing the same? Instead the government gives scholarships to people from around asean, that is ok if singapore has enough places for her domestic students, but that is not the case.
Singapore can also "milk" these international student who comes to singapore, why iznt the government doing it?
Does the government really think that schlolarships can buy loyalty? Singaporeans who wanted to study in our own uni are displaced, are we not comparable to these foreign scholars?
On this count, I believe the singapore government has made a very bad move. Lose-Lose for the citizen and the government.
- Does the government really think that schlolarships can buy loyalty? Singaporeans who wanted to study in our own uni are displaced, are we not comparable to these foreign scholars?
I rather agree that scholarships can't buy loyalty, but i don't think loyalty's the objective here, i believe familiarity is what they hope to accomplish.
By offering the scholarships, the well performing foreign students come here to study and if they really are good they can get a job here. By getting them to study here, they might grow to be familar with the lifestyle and chose to stay. After all, as human beings we tend to prefer to stick with the familar once we've grown used to it.
What they offer, is their minds that would entice the higher end corporations to stay.
If such scholarships are not offered, these foreign students wouldn't even come here in the first place. I don't think it would be possible we can expect all our talents to be homegrown.
I'm not advocating my view is the correct one, but merely presenting my analysis of the other side of the coin.
I think its like education is focusing more on capital now...that's what keeps the school running and if their research can be done...
this is the same situation in singapore la.
some of our private instituition also treat foreign student like cash cow.
That more of a reason u had to do a better research before enrolling into one.
by the way, i never heard of this UNi. Is this a state own uni?
Originally posted by whiskers:What you said is true... International students in aust are treated like cash cows... Afterall, its called the australian education industry. Ie. to make money...
What i cannot comprehend is, why isn't singapore doing the same? Instead the government gives scholarships to people from around asean, that is ok if singapore has enough places for her domestic students, but that is not the case.
Singapore can also "milk" these international student who comes to singapore, why iznt the government doing it?
Does the government really think that schlolarships can buy loyalty? Singaporeans who wanted to study in our own uni are displaced, are we not comparable to these foreign scholars?
On this count, I believe the singapore government has made a very bad move. Lose-Lose for the citizen and the government.
scholarship cant but loyalty, it breeds deceit.
What i cannot comprehend is, why isn't singapore doing the same? Instead the government gives scholarships to people from around asean, that is ok if singapore has enough places for her domestic students, but that is not the case.
Singapore can also "milk" these international student who comes to singapore, why iznt the government doing it?
Does the government really think that schlolarships can buy loyalty? Singaporeans who wanted to study in our own uni are displaced, are we not comparable to these foreign scholars?
On this count, I believe the singapore government has made a very bad move. Lose-Lose for the citizen and the government.
singaporea has been milking foreign student for a long long time liao!
it is all private school that has been milking them.
your case are only restricted to NTU, NUS.
these are state own. so money is never an issue, well.. even though u pay $6-7k/yr they claim they still subsidise.
Originally posted by Stevenson101:I rather agree that scholarships can't buy loyalty, but i don't think loyalty's the objective here, i believe familiarity is what they hope to accomplish.
By offering the scholarships, the well performing foreign students come here to study and if they really are good they can get a job here. By getting them to study here, they might grow to be familar with the lifestyle and chose to stay. After all, as human beings we tend to prefer to stick with the familar once we've grown used to it.
What they offer, is their minds that would entice the higher end corporations to stay.
If such scholarships are not offered, these foreign students wouldn't even come here in the first place. I don't think it would be possible we can expect all our talents to be homegrown.
I'm not advocating my view is the correct one, but merely presenting my analysis of the other side of the coin.
that is very naive. there is this springboard culture among the young immigrants.
once they got established enough, they will try to seek immigration to a even better paying country.
its the same when singaporean go overseas for work and studies. if they can leave everything behind in singapore, they can do it again anywhere, and be literally global citizens, where citizenship is just a meaningless piece of paper.
you think gong li really want to become a singaporean because singapore is an attractive country to her? in fact, how often did you see her around in singapore. most of the time, she's living in china or at LA, hollywood.
she pick up singapore citizenship cos its cheap and convenient. as long as you don't stay in singapore, you don't have to pay tax, and a singapore passport is more convenient when travelling compared to a chinese or american passport.
likewise, how many scholars want to really stay and contribute to singapore, by becoming a loyal singaporean? too few.
the ministers speak of them creating employment. but i only see they taking employment from locals, instead of creating jobs for locals. if you want to create employment, it would be better to invite entrepreneurs and investors over to singapore, than to offer jobs and scholarships to foreigners. The gahmen's immigration logic is warped.
we don't need to offer scholarships to attract foreign talents.
if they are truly talented, they would have seek out singapore as a place of business opportunities, and come to singapore on their own. look at china and india now, people are fighting to enter these markets, and the government plays only a minimal role in attracting investment. by not trying intentionally to bring in foreign talent, only the truly capable and commited will come knocking on the doors of singapores.
we do not need to lower ourselves to the role of beggars, prostrating and begging these so-called "talents" to come to singapore, enticing them with our hard earned cash.
even if we r to offer scholarship to foreigners, it would be better for the universities and educational institutions themselves to award the scholarships, not the government.
have you seen any singaporean on a british or american government scholarship? no. even the smartest singaporean scholar can only hope of getting a university scholarship (excluding corporate scholarships), i don't see why our government should be so "special" to award scholarships to foreigners.
Originally posted by reyes:singaporea has been milking foreign student for a long long time liao!
it is all private school that has been milking them.
your case are only restricted to NTU, NUS.
these are state own. so money is never an issue, well.. even though u pay $6-7k/yr they claim they still subsidise.
$6-7k/yr is subsidised at least to me. the real cost of of comparable degree in Aus is 19K average. But Aus citizens pay much lower right?
they will have to pay back the same cost through tax when they work later. In singapore, u pay upfront actually. Considering there is the non existence of the social security issue 6-7K is reasonable. the price of one Home theatre high end every semester.
Feel free to dispute me
i dont understand why singapore will not be attractive to investors. It is convienient, easy and accessible.
Originally posted by SPLIT SECOND:$6-7k/yr is subsidised at least to me. the real cost of of comparable degree in Aus is 19K average. But Aus citizens pay much lower right?
they will have to pay back the same cost through tax when they work later. In singapore, u pay upfront actually. Considering there is the non existence of the social security issue 6-7K is reasonable. the price of one Home theatre high end every semester.
Feel free to dispute me
when they work, they have to pay tax. and i suppose that unless you are filthy rich and can afford to stay and home and rot, you also need to go out there and work and pay taxes.
they get free education and pay tax when they start working, and you get subsidy and also pay tax when you start working. so who is better off?
Originally posted by deathmaster:
when they work, they have to pay tax. and i suppose that unless you are filthy rich and can afford to stay and home and rot, you also need to go out there and work and pay taxes.they get free education and pay tax when they start working, and you get subsidy and also pay tax when you start working. so who is better off?
excuse me, there is no or little tax for salary below or more than $2000 right?
But in Aus, every salary range has tax. Think about it.
Originally posted by reyes:singaporea has been milking foreign student for a long long time liao!
it is all private school that has been milking them.
your case are only restricted to NTU, NUS.
these are state own. so money is never an issue, well.. even though u pay $6-7k/yr they claim they still subsidise.
Yes, this is true... I know prc who got conned by their people in china and come here study cheating private schools thinking its a recognized degree..
But those are not what I am interested in, those are cheats.
What I am more concerned are NUS, NTU.
Like SGH, i believe schools should learn from the hospitals, charge those foreigners an exorbitant sum of money, treat these people as cash cows too, no reason we should be kind to them; Kind to them at our taxpayers expense, cos the money for scholarship is borne by us also.
And who knows, Singapore may really be an education hub.
Ofcourse I dun really care if the gahmen treat them as cash cows ornot, I am only pissed because these people got free lunch and occupy our sit as well.
Originally posted by Stevenson101:I rather agree that scholarships can't buy loyalty, but i don't think loyalty's the objective here, i believe familiarity is what they hope to accomplish.
By offering the scholarships, the well performing foreign students come here to study and if they really are good they can get a job here. By getting them to study here, they might grow to be familar with the lifestyle and chose to stay. After all, as human beings we tend to prefer to stick with the familar once we've grown used to it.
What they offer, is their minds that would entice the higher end corporations to stay.
If such scholarships are not offered, these foreign students wouldn't even come here in the first place. I don't think it would be possible we can expect all our talents to be homegrown.
I'm not advocating my view is the correct one, but merely presenting my analysis of the other side of the coin.
I believe the gahmen should focus on profits when it comes to foreign students.
I'm continually amazed by the lengths some people will go to in order to find excuses for fucking up in school.
You failed. Grow up and deal with it instead of finding all sorts of cock-and-bull stories about being mistreated. Can't take the heat? Balek kampung. This isn't a place where you can throw money around and buy a degree.
at least the TS has rich parents to send him to Oz for tertiary education. whatabout the rest of the poorer singaporeans?
machiam like complaining life is tough coz the caviar is not fresh enough.
...as compared to Singapore where the locals are taxed with COE ERP GST...HdebtB.... and foreign students get free food, lodging and free university education... TS should be a foreigner in his own country if he wants to be treated fairly.
$6-7k/yr is subsidised at least to me. the real cost of of comparable degree in Aus is 19K average. But Aus citizens pay much lower right?
they will have to pay back the same cost through tax when they work later. In singapore, u pay upfront actually. Considering there is the non existence of the social security issue 6-7K is reasonable. the price of one Home theatre high end every semester.
Feel free to dispute me
i dot not know what is the cost per student at NTU/NUS so i am able to judge whether there is real subsidies after each student pay6-7k/yr. anyway, the cost computation at most times are debatable.
maybe the student Central Queensland University cant accept failure thinking payment 24K will guarantee certify master degree program.
Originally posted by reyes:this is the same situation in singapore la.
some of our private instituition also treat foreign student like cash cow.
That more of a reason u had to do a better research before enrolling into one.
by the way, i never heard of this UNi. Is this a state own uni?
If you want to know more about this uni, its in Australia, Queensland, Brisbane.
It's not a popular university, from what I heard is that CQU allows international students to pass easier and therefore graduate earlier compared to other international students that go to Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology and University of Queensland.
For all I know to gain entry into CQU is not difficult, you just need a pass in english. If you have an overall performance (OP) of 17 to 21 you can gain entry. OP 1 is the highest and OP 25 is the lowest, this applies to all students who have finished highschool.
Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:
TS should be a foreigner in his own country if he wants to be treated fairly.
Ironically.... I think he is....