China
Time to reset Australian international education
Author: Fran Martin, University of Melbourne
In the context of the long-term erosion of public funding for universities, education has become one of Australia’s most valuable export commodities. Not only do international students’ fees bolster the revenue of universities, but their spending on other goods and services also makes a significant contribution to the communities where they live. In 2018–19, they contributed AU$37.6 billion (US$25.1 billion) to the national economy.
In recent years, students from China have consistently been the biggest group of international students in Australia — about 30 per cent — with over 200,000 in September 2019. In Group of Eight universities, Chinese students comprise 60 per cent of the international student body. Fears of over-concentration are driving universities to attempt to diversify source countries for international enrolments. But relative levels of economic development in alternative source countries mean that it is unlikely in the short to medium-term that China could be replaced.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to Australian international education. Travel bans have seen around 120,000 international students stuck overseas. Those who are stranded in Australia are struggling financially: without income from casual work, excluded from federal safety nets and lacking the means to return home. Universities Australia estimates that revenue across the nation’s universities will decline by AU$3–4.6 billion in 2020 as a result of disruption to international enrolments. Anxieties are running high about the future of Australian international education and its higher education sector as a whole.
What factors could adversely affect international students’ desire to study in Australia after COVID-19, and how can Australia improve this outlook?
The quality of student experience does not rely solely on the excellence of the education they receive. Rather, as Bruce Baird observed in his 2010 review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act, ‘Australia’s international education reputation depends on how well we provide for the wellbeing of international students and their whole experience of studying and living in Australia’.
Hospitality, living and wellbeing factors rank highly in a prospective international student’s choice of where to study. A sense of local connection and social inclusion is also a prime factor influencing a student’s likelihood of recommending a study destination to acquaintances. The experiences of current cohorts of Chinese students can influence the choices of future students about where to study, affecting the long-term sustainability of international education in Australia.
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, life for Chinese students in Australia was not rosy. Research findings show that many experience vulnerabilities including: limited access to reliable local information and vulnerability to misinformation, racism and social exclusion, and restricted opportunities for intercultural mixing. On a more institutional level, many experience restricted or exploitative work, exploitation in rental accommodation, difficulties engaging effectively with Australian police processes as victims of crime and difficulties accessing Australian health systems including mental health support.
To address these problems, international students must be reconceptualised as part of the national youth population with associated rights as such. International students are part of Australian communities, and the benefits that they bring extend beyond universities.
Supporting these young people requires four key measures. First, Australia should work to improve communication with international students, especially in-language and via relevant social media platforms. Second, Australia can develop more effective regulation to protect international students’ rights and interests, such as systematically regulating information provision and homestay standards. Third, increased support for local agencies is necessary for them to respond effectively to international students’ needs. One example is increased resourcing to support the provision of legal advice on tenants’ and workers’ rights. Finally, further collaboration with culturally and linguistically diverse communities can help to develop effective systems to safeguard international students’ wellbeing.
Currently, under the ESOS Framework, education providers are responsible for providing information and services to international students to…
China
New Report from Dezan Shira & Associates: China Takes the Lead in Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024
China has been the world’s largest manufacturer for 14 years, producing one-third of global manufacturing output. In the Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024, China ranks highest among eight emerging countries in the region. Challenges for these countries include global demand disparities affecting industrial output and export orders.
Known as the “World’s Factory”, China has held the title of the world’s largest manufacturer for 14 consecutive years, starting from 2010. Its factories churn out approximately one-third of the global manufacturing output, a testament to its industrial might and capacity.
China’s dominant role as the world’s sole manufacturing power is reaffirmed in Dezan Shira & Associates’ Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024 report (“EAMI 2024”), in which China secures the top spot among eight emerging countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The other seven economies are India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
The EAMI 2024 aims to assess the potential of these eight economies, navigate the risks, and pinpoint specific factors affecting the manufacturing landscape.
In this article, we delve into the key findings of the EAMI 2024 report and navigate China’s advantages and disadvantages in the manufacturing sector, placing them within the Asia-Pacific comparative context.
Emerging Asia countries face various challenges, especially in the current phase of increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). One notable challenge is the impact of global demand disparities on the manufacturing sector, affecting industrial output and export orders.
This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.
China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.
China
Is journalist Vicky Xu preparing to return to China?
Chinese social media influencers have recently claimed that prominent Chinese-born Australian journalist Vicky Xu had posted a message saying she planned to return to China.
There is no evidence for this. The source did not provide evidence to support the claim, and Xu herself later confirmed to AFCL that she has no such plans.
Currently working as an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, or ASPI, Xu has previously written for both the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, or ABC, and The New York Times.
A Chinese language netizen on X initially claimed on March 31 that the changing geopolitical relations between Sydney and Beijing had caused Xu to become an expendable asset and that she had posted a message expressing a strong desire to return to China. An illegible, blurred photo of the supposed message accompanied the post.
This claim was retweeted by a widely followed influencer on the popular Chinese social media site Weibo one day later, who additionally commented that Xu was a “traitor” who had been abandoned by Australian media.
Following the publication of an ASPI article in 2021 which exposed forced labor conditions in Xinjiang co-authored by Xu, the journalist was labeled “morally bankrupt” and “anti-China” by the Chinese state owned media outlet Global Times and subjected to an influx of threatening messages and digital abuse, eventually forcing her to temporarily close several of her social media accounts.
AFCL found that neither Xu’s active X nor LinkedIn account has any mention of her supposed return to China, and received the following response from Xu herself about the rumor:
“I can confirm that I don’t have plans to go back to China. I think if I do go back I’ll most definitely be detained or imprisoned – so the only career I’ll be having is probably going to be prison labor or something like that, which wouldn’t be ideal.”
Neither a keyword search nor reverse image search on the photo attached to the original X post turned up any text from Xu supporting the netizens’ claims.
Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Shen Ke and Malcolm Foster.
Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in today’s complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers’ understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Read the rest of this article here >>> Is journalist Vicky Xu preparing to return to China?
China
Guide for Foreign Residents: Obtaining a Certificate of No Criminal Record in China
Foreign residents in China can request a criminal record check from their local security bureau. This certificate may be required for visa applications or job opportunities. Requirements and procedures vary by city. In Shanghai, foreigners must have lived there for 180 days with a valid visa to obtain the certificate.
Foreign residents living in China can request a criminal record check from the local security bureau in the city in which they have lived for at least 180 days. Certificates of no criminal record may be required for people leaving China, or those who are starting a new position in China and applying for a new visa or residence permit. Taking Shanghai as an example, we outline the requirements for obtaining a China criminal record check.
Securing a Certificate of No Criminal Record, often referred to as a criminal record or criminal background check, is a crucial step for various employment opportunities, as well as visa applications and residency permits in China. Nevertheless, navigating the process can be a daunting task due to bureaucratic procedures and language barriers.
In this article, we use Shanghai as an example to explore the essential information and steps required to successfully obtain a no-criminal record check. Requirements and procedures may differ in other cities and counties in China.
Note that foreigners who are not currently living in China and need a criminal record check to apply for a Chinese visa must obtain the certificate from their country of residence or nationality, and have it notarized by a Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.
Foreigners who have a valid residence permit and have lived in Shanghai for at least 180 days can request a criminal record check in the city. This means that the applicant will also need to currently have a work, study, or other form of visa or stay permit that allows them to live in China long-term.
If a foreigner has lived in another part of China and is planning to or has recently moved to Shanghai, they will need to request a criminal record check in the place where they previously spent at least 180 days.
There are two steps to obtaining a criminal record certificate in Shanghai: requesting the criminal record check from the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and getting the resulting Certificate of No Criminal Record notarized by an authorized notary agency.
This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.
China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.
- New Report from Dezan Shira & Associates: China Takes the Lead in Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024
- Is journalist Vicky Xu preparing to return to China?
- Guide for Foreign Residents: Obtaining a Certificate of No Criminal Record in China
- China Unveils Plan to Upgrade Industrial Equipment
- China deepens engagement with new Indonesian president as top diplomat visits Jakarta
- New Publication: A Guide for Foreign Investors on Navigating China’s New Company Law
