International Education and Cultural-Linguistic Experiences of International Students in Australia

Abstract

Edited by Abe Ata and Alex Kostogriz The internationalisation of higher education in the 20th century, built on an unprecedented expansion of transport and communication networks and the scope of international scholarly activities, triggered a massive flow of people across countries and continents. Geographically remote countries, such as Australia, became more attractive and accessible to migrants from Europe. Today, international education in Australia is under enormous pressure to reinvent itself. This book offers a collection of chapters that cover various dimensions of international education in Australia. The issues covered span from political and student identity concerns to the pedagogical and curriculum dimensions of international education and to the areas of language acquisition and language assessment. Each chapter formulates implications for the education of international students as Australia enters a new phase of hyperglobalism and completion with the rise of global cities and educational hubs that they provide beyond the traditional Western providers of higher education. Coming from diverse backgrounds and regions, the authors offer insights into significant developments in international education as they address crucial questions faced by educators in Australia and compare them with North America and Europe in comprehensive and critical ways. This includes shifts in methodological approaches in education and policy research, as well as other issues arising from comparative research, such as improving educational quality and responsiveness of education to the needs of international students. Several chapters address more specific problems of providing equality, access, and equity for all students, narrowing the achievement gap, and the ways of offering education that is free from prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, gender, social class and religion.