Universities are preparing what Four Corners will report  

Universities are bracing for ABC TV’s Four Corners report Monday night on international students which claims institutions have compensated for budget cuts by increasing international enrolments. “Higher education institutions that only a few years ago were cash strapped are now flush with billions of dollars brought in from fee paying international students,” a promo states.

The programme is reported to claim students who are admitted on English-language test results which meet requirements can turn out to lack the spoken and written fluency necessary for university study.

The programme is said to look at universities in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and WA and includes academics talking about their experience. Peak body Universities Australia was interviewed and programme researchers heard concerns of unionists, as well as local and international students unhappy with their learning experience.

Universities which fear allegations of admitting students whose English is inadequate are said to be especially alarmed by the programme.

The apparent premise of the programme seems flawed – the post-school education system has been building international business for three decades, not in response to the recent freeze on funding growth for student places. But evidence of unis exploiting international students, their classmates  and teachers will hurt, especially if it is more than anecdotal.