Asian students are trying to accept western education system

There were 379,214 enrolments by full-fee paying international students in Australia on a student visa as at year-to-date (YTD) June 2013. The Top 5 nationalities are China, India, republic of Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, they are contributed 53.7% of Australia’s enrolments in all sectors(Susan Linacre, 2007). We will find that that all of them are Asian countries. It also be interesting, according to the data of 2009 PISA(program of international student assessment), most of the top five countries are Asian countries. These Asian students have already got such high education outcomes in their own countries, why they still attach importance to have such abroad studying experience in Australia?

An article published in ABC NEWS website, which is called “Australian  universities luring Hong Kong students”

(http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-18/hong-kong-education/4828510).

It may explain some reasons of above and Asian students choose be  international students in Sydney. Several years ago, due to the high Australian dollar and the competition of British, international students from Hong Kong drop-off. These years the exchange rate has eased the export of education a lot and the government introduced some advantage policies, such as offer work visas for international students after they graduate, it would be a benefit of personal career line. At the same time, some universities in Australia accept their high school final marks. On the other hand, students and their parents believe in the value of international education in the global market.

In Stankov’s(2010)view, because of the “unforgiving” Confucian culture make these Confucian Asian countries(eg, China, Korea) demonstrate less forgiveness towards underachievement and misbehaviors, in the same way students experience higher anxiety and self-doubt than other parts of world.  Asian students seriously consider and have high aim of their life. They trust to have the advantage of a multicultural experience and a ability to speak different languages, can contribute their confidence to face the developing globalization in the future and cultivate an independent personality. Therefore, a lot of students  gave up the opportunity to step into their own countries’universities.

During the years been educated in China, i found that students always work towards to achievement by emphasizing repetition and memorization in school and consider about parents and teachers advice. It could be  Confucian Asian culture high esteem for education, filial piety, perseverance, humility, self-control, respect for one’s elders and ancestors, adherence to norms and authority. Furthermore, they are willing to experience another education system which claims high quality and equality. Most of them are fulled of curious about it. However, when  I joined in the Australian class, I realized It is hard for some Asian students like me  to used to the academic environment, especially in learning style and language issues. The lack of critical thinking and language abilities are main problems. As a result, when we spend a lot of time to finish an academic reading, sometimes we can not understand the main idea of articles and difficult to have our own critical ideas. So language and thinking habits are our current issues being an international students in Australian university. 

Therefore, international students are accepting the western education system by luring of Australian universities one hand. On the other hand, they are  overcoming the difficulties of fit in the education system of Australia.

Reference:

Susan Linacre.(2007). International students in Australia. Australia social trend in 2007

Lazar Stankov. (2010). Unforgiving Confucian culture: A breeding ground for high academic achievement,test anxiety and self-doubt? Learning and Individual Differences 20 p555–563

Runes, Dagobert D. (1983). Dictionary of Philosophy. Philosophical Library. p. 338.