Half the nation’s PhD holders are from overseas

By Geoff Maslen. In the 1850s, Chinese immigrants referred to the Australian gold fields as Xin Jin Shan, the New Gold Mountain, whereas the Californian gold rush was in decline and had become known as Jiu Jin Shan, the Old Gold Mountain. In the 21st century, a new group of Chinese has come to Australia seeking the gold that is linked to obtaining a degree.
Although universities in many Western countries are enrolling increasing numbers of Chinese, few could match the proportionate flood into Australian higher education where the offspring of parents in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore now number more than 150,000. These Chinese students represent a startling 45% of the 333,000 from around the world who collectively comprise 27% of the 1.22 million students enrolled on Australian university campuses. Read more...