Be vigilant over Chinese influence on campuses
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Printed Date: April 18 2024 at 1:53am
Topic: Be vigilant over Chinese influence on campuses
Posted By: carbon20
Subject: Be vigilant over Chinese influence on campuses
Date Posted: October 09 2017 at 2:59pm
Education Minister urges universities to be vigilant over Chinese influence on campuses http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/" rel="nofollow - AM By political reporter http://www.abc.net.au/news/stephanie-borys/8477096" rel="nofollow - Stephanie Borys Posted about an hour ago http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-10/canberra-university-students-sitting-in-a-lecture-theatre/9030404" rel="nofollow">  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-10/canberra-university-students-sitting-in-a-lecture-theatre/9030404" rel="nofollow - Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham has reminded Australian universities to be vigilant about their academic integrity and independence. His comments follow increasing concerns about China's influence within the nation's higher education sector. Addressing a Chinese Government-funded academic institute event over the weekend, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Frances Adamson http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-09/universities-warned-to-resist-chinese-communist-party-influence/9030372" rel="nofollow - told universities to remain secure and resilient against foreign interference . She also reaffirmed the importance of public debate in the classroom. Her comments have been backed by Senator Birmingham, who told AM different opinions are welcomed in Australian education. "Every student should be challenged when they are at university. They should have their thinking challenged and they should find it a challenging experience," he said. He has urged universities not to let their guards down. "Universities need to be as ever vigilant today as they have been through their history in terms of ensuring their integrity, their high standing, their delivery of quality education and I am confident that they are doing that, they are challenging the students who come to them, whatever the background of those students," he said. Alex Joske is a student at the Australian National University who is examining the influence of China. He was born in Australia, but his mother is Chinese and he has lived in both countries. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-18/chinese-soft-power-play-targets-australian-university-students/7922390" rel="nofollow - Has China shifted up a gear?http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-18/chinese-soft-power-play-targets-australian-university-students/7922390" rel="nofollow"> http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-18/chinese-soft-power-play-targets-australian-university-students/7922390" rel="nofollow - Representatives of the Chinese diaspora have responded to the consulate's soft power plays. He believes universities need to introduce better integration programs to help international students understand our way of life. "It's quite difficult but there are definite programs you could implement. You could implement buddy programs for example, just to give them one Australian friend when they arrive at the university," he said. Senator Birmingham agreed more could be done to help international students engage with the community. "That is something for us all to focus on, universities, governments, policy makers, employers and others," he said. 'A deer in the headlights'Ms Adamson's public appearance also provided a rare window into the Government's thinking about China's One Belt One Road initiative, which is an ambitious plan to build a vast network of new trade routes across the globe. When asked about the initiative, Ms Adamson said Australian companies were welcome to participate, but the Federal Government was still examining the detail. "We know from our neighbours in the South Pacific in particular that infrastructure projects can come with very heavy price tags and the repayment of those loans often can be absolutely crippling and that's why you'd expect Australia has an interest in governance arrangements," she said. Nick Bisley, professor of international relations at La Trobe University and a board member of China Matters, believed the secretary's comments indicated the Government did not have a clear position on how to handle China's ambitions. "It seems to be a bit like a deer in the headlights, or a bit muddled as to where to go on this one," he said. "And I think that's partly because we don't quite know where Belt Road is going to finish, it looks vast and in some degrees hard to work out where it begins and where it ends." Australia China Business Council National chief executive officer Helen Sawczak has urged the Government to keep an open mind. "National security concerns are of course important, however the initiative does offer great economic commercial opportunities for Australian businesses," she said. She said the Government should look at the different infrastructure projects separately. "Every project which arises should be reviewed on its merits, and its corporate governance structure and its economic benefits and opportunities," she said. Labor has already said if elected to government, it would consult with China and examine projects on a case-by-case basis. ------------- Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖 Marcus Aurelius |