May 15, 1998

U of A needs to beef up presence in Asia

President Rod Fraser identified universities in Australia and the University of Toronto as the U of A's strongest competitors in student recruitment in Asia during a Board of Governors discussion of internationalization efforts. Fraser, along with Board of Governors Chair Lloyd Malin and Chancellor Lou Hyndman, were briefing the board May 1 about their activities during the Hong Kong convocation in March.

Fraser says U of T has agreed to fund a permanent office in Hong Kong and continues to be a strong draw for Asian students because of the "large indigenous Asian population there." One thing the U of A should emphasize to Hong Kong parents is the "very safe environment" Edmonton provides as a place of study for their children, he said.

However, location can also work against the U of A. Fraser said when rectors from Chile or Asia arrive in Canada, they basically visit the Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal triangle.

Educational strengths of the U of A also need to be pushed because there's a perception American schools are better, said the president.

Meanwhile in Thailand, Fraser said Australia has 25 people doing what three or four people do in Canada for recruitment. By March, Australian banners in Singapore subway stations advertise the choices, and an immigration officer is stationed on the island state to approve visas.

Malin said while the U of A is a member of the Canadian Education Centre in Hong Kong, there is no recruiting done out of this office. And speaking with alumni while in Hong Kong, Malin said the U of A's five-month approval process for foreign students is a barrier particularly when the University of New South Wales offers a 24-hour turnaround.

Board NASA representative Anita Moore stressed the importance of U of A material in embassies. She said a parent in Asia was "told point blank there were no Canadian universities west of Ontario" by someone in a Canadian Embassy.

While a lively discussion ensued about stepping up internationalization efforts, Sheamus Murphy, student union president, raised the negative coverage the U of A received because of the costs associated with the Hong Kong convocation. ".It's important the Board of Governors know this." And he says he doesn't buy into a proposal to increase international student fees because foreign students question the quality of the U of A given low fees. "Or is this to supplement the revenues at the U of A?" said Murphy.

Dr. Doug Owram, vice-president academic, said Bonnie Neuman, the former associate registrar, received comments in Asia about the low fees compared to institutions in the U.S., and a proposal was brought forward to the deans with mixed reaction. As a result, a task force, headed by Norman Riddell, associate vice-president international, and Brian Silzer, the registrar, was struck to look at a strategy for international recruitment. Owram said the task force will search for the perfect balance: fees high enough that the U of A isn't perceived as a low budget institution and low enough that the U of A isn't priced out of the market.

President Fraser said he recognizes students need to be kept better informed about the impact of internationalization efforts. "The growth of international students has meant $1 million into the core budget. This should have been better communicated to students."

Thom McDonnell, student representative, said while students working minimum-wage jobs all summer would take about 12 years to pay off the estimated $80,000 cost of the Hong Kong convocation, he now realizes internationalization means money for the U of A. McDonnell hopes efforts will be extended to countries on other continents, such as Chile, Venezuela and Cuba.

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