The feds have been talking about diversifying where international students come from, what they study and in what formats for a year now (CMM March 31). The Innovative Research Universities group warns of possible unwelcome outcomes

IRU warns that recruiting more students from some national markets risks creating an impression in others that they are not valued.

The lobby also suggests that diversifying student markets involves multiple policies and agencies, (such as AusTrade, DFAT, Home Affairs, TEQSA)  and requires “a joined-up approach across government.”

And it warns that if government required universities to diversify their sources of students it could harm those that already have.

IRU suggests its members already have a “diverse set of students” but they could suffer, with “resource-rich universities aggressively targeting students and markets from smaller universities, through incentives such as scholarships. This would distort the market further, undermining diversity gains already achieved.”