In this interview, Brianna McKee appeared on Perth Live 6PR to discuss the IPA’s research on the domestic university student dropout rate.
Oliver Peterson:
It is eight past four. There needs to be a refocus on priorities because domestic university dropouts are starting to reach a record high. This is according to the Institute of Public Affairs. Brianna McKee can tell you more. Good afternoon.
Brianna McKee:
Thanks so much for having me.
Oliver Peterson:
My pleasure. So what, more domestic students are starting bachelor’s degrees and just dropping out?
Brianna McKee:
Yes. So what our research shows is that there’s been a record low of just 62% of domestic students completing their degrees. And at the same time, 79% of overseas students complete their degrees. So a quarter of all domestic students who commence the bachelor’s degree in 2017 had dropped out by 2022. And we’ve seen that since the year 2000, the number of enrollments of international students has increased by 370%. And that’s compared to an 84% increase in domestic students. So Australian universities are clearly shifting their focus to attracting international students and it’s occurring at the expense of domestic Australian students.
Oliver Peterson:
You said Brianna, since 2000, the number of enrollments of international students is increased by 370%. No wonder they’re addicted to signing up more and more international students.
Brianna McKee:
That’s right. So international students increased from 14% of all university students in 2000 to 29% in 2022. So they make up about a third of the student body. And what our research also establishes is that six of the group of eight universities have proportions of international students higher than the overall average. So the two exceptions are the University of Adelaide and actually the University of Western Australia.
Oliver Peterson:
Is it –
Brianna McKee:
So these universities… That’s right, that’s right. But there’s a clear revenue incentive for them to continue to increase the numbers of international students. And Australians should be asking our vice chancellors who have these exorbitant salaries, which are propped up by international student fees as to whether or not the university model is actually delivering for Australian students and obviously these Australian students to be the priority of the sector.
Oliver Peterson:
Yeah, well you got to ask, what’s the priority now Brianna of these universities? Is it to maximise profits? To maximise revenue?
Brianna McKee:
Yeah. Well what we’ve seen is that vice chancellors, they often complain about the lack of funding, but this is at the same time as university bureaucracies have just ballooned and universities are obviously currently bringing in millions in revenue from international students. So some of our research shows that the number of bureaucrats employed by Australia’s universities has risen quite sharply in recent decades. And the group of eight universities are devoting resources to non-academic staff at a collective cost of 3 billion each year. So we have more than 50% of all university employees in non-academic roles. So university should be about teaching and research, not bureaucracy, but that’s not what we’re seeing.
Oliver Peterson:
My guest is Brianna McKee, research fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. 133 882.
Did you drop out of a university degree? And what was your reason? And do you think that universities now need to refocus their priorities or what’s wrong with unis as to why we’ve seen just 62% of domestic students completing their degrees?
133 882.
Brianna, there’s a lot of pressure obviously on the universities at the moment. There’s talk from the federal government about cutting down on the number of international students that they can actually enrol. Will that make any difference?
Brianna McKee:
Well, it’s good that the problem has been acknowledged by the Minister, Jason Clare, but the caps that have been introduced will not actually cut the number of international students. We need hard caps with a measurable reduction of intake. And this has consequences in terms of housing and infrastructure as well. And that’s what the government’s own migration review established last year. It said that it’s negatively impacting communities that actually see no benefit from these students.
Oliver Peterson:
So should there be a hard cap on the number of international students Brianna?
Brianna McKee:
Yes, there should be a hard cap.
Oliver Peterson:
All right, I appreciate your time. Thank you very much. Thanks so much. As Brianna McKay, Institute of Public Affairs, research fellow.
133 882.
I mean, not everybody has to go to university to be successful. Absolutely not. It doesn’t mean you go to uni and you’re successful, but why is it that now we have just 62% of domestic students completing their degrees? Did you start a degree? Did you drop out? What was it about it that you didn’t like? What was your reason? And is there more that the universities can do to keep students studying longer and completing their degrees? Or is it just not for you?
133 882.
Good day.
This transcript from Brianna McKee talking on Perth Live 6PR from 23 October 2024 has been edited for clarity.
