Ly Tran of Deakins University: Government policies shaping international student mobility

The global landscape of higher education has witnessed a remarkable transformation in recent years, driven in part by the increasing mobility of international students pursuing education in foreign countries.

Central to this transformative journey is the intricate web of government policies that govern visa regulations, international education-migration pathways, work hours, employment opportunities, and support for the overall well-being of international students. These policies have played an influential role in sculpting the trajectory of international student mobility patterns, with profound implications for both host countries and the students themselves.

In an exclusive interview with MSM Reporter, Ly Tran, a professor at Deakin University in Australia, discussed the dynamic interplay between government policies and the experiences of international students.

Tran shared insights from their recent surveys, involving over 6,000 international students, graduates, education providers, and stakeholders.

According to the research, international students are predominantly seeking assistance in three crucial domains, namely, securing employment opportunities (78 percent) gaining guidance on career direction and enhancing employability (78 percent), and participating in work-integrated learning opportunities or internships (76 percent).

Tran’s another survey also highlights that 76 percent of international graduates considered access to post-study work visas important when choosing Australia as their study destination.

Challenges to int’l student employability
The Australian government responded to the country’s skills shortage by extending post-study work visas for international students with degrees in high-demand areas, providing an additional two years of work rights, as noted by Tran.

“The host government needs to be reciprocal and genuinely supportive of international students,” said Tran.

“The changes to post-study work rights policy should not be primarily driven by the host interest but should genuinely consider how these policy changes can enhance international students’ graduate employability and human capital development,” she added.

Tran’s decade-long research involving international students and graduates identified significant hindrances to their employability and job outcomes.

Among these are a lack of relevant work-integrated learning opportunities, employer reluctance due to visa status prejudice, a preference for candidates with permanent residency or citizenship, misperceptions about workplace culture and English proficiency, a lack of recognition for prior experiences and skills, and misunderstandings about visa conditions.

“International students’ temporary visa status was a point of discrimination, ambiguity or hesitation but now employers need them to release the worker shortage pressures,” the professor said.

“The international education sector can build on this momentum to work with employers to enhance understanding and communicate to the broader community about the contributions of international students and recognize them as a valuable workforce, not just during a critical time,” she added.

Recommendations
To enhance international student employability, Tran recommended that institutions and stakeholders collaborate closely with employers in various professional fields, raising awareness of international students’ potential strengths and contributions to Australian society.

Moreover, a coordinated effort among different stakeholders is crucial to educating employers about the implications of international students’ contributions, work rights, and visa statuses for work-integrated learning programs in their respective fields.

“Importantly existing prejudices towards international students need to be tackled at a more systematic level.”