CDU not fazed by China racism warning, losing foreign students
CHARLES Darwin University is not concerned about losing Chinese student enrolments despite China warning its residents not to study in Australia because of a ‘chronic’ problem with racism
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CHARLES Darwin University is not concerned about a loss of Chinese enrolments despite the country warning its students not to study in Australia.
In a statement this week China’s Ministry of Education cautioned its students from studying in Australia due to racism.
“The spread of the new global COVID-19 outbreak has not been effectively controlled, and there are risks in international travel and open campuses,” it read.
“During the epidemic, there were multiple discriminatory incidents against Asians in Australia.”
China’s state media also unleashed an extraordinary attack on Australia this week saying the country’s “chronic” problem with racism is worsening.
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A CDU spokeswoman said the university was not concerned, and had experienced a 6 per cent increase in applications from Chinese students to study in the Territory in Semester 2.
“The university is confident that good sense will prevail and that our students and our recruiting agents based in country understand that Darwin offers a welcoming and multicultural environment in which to live and study,” she said.
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“Many of these students (who have applied) are already studying in Australia and are looking to transfer to CDU.
“The students are telling the university that they are looking to transfer because of the welcoming multicultural nature of Darwin, greater opportunities to practise English on a daily basis and because of the culturally diverse student population at CDU."
In 2019 CDU had 289 students from China, making up 12.9 per cent of its international student population.
India, Nepal and China are the top countries that study with CDU, according to its 2018 Annual Report.
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International student applications for Semester 2 are up 23 per cent compared to last year.
“However, there are still a number of COVID-19 related factors (many out of CDU’s control) that will determine whether these students are able to start in Semester 2 this year,” said the spokeswoman.
“Despite the strong International student demand to study in the NT, as evidenced by the S2 application rate, and even if some International students are able to start in S2, it is likely that CDU’s new international student numbers in Semester 2 will be smaller than last year as a result of COVID-19.”
In March the NT News reported eight CDU international students chose to defer their enrolments due to the coronavirus pandemic, while 36 students chose to study online.
Originally published as CDU not fazed by China racism warning, losing foreign students
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