Globalization opportunities for low socio-economic status and regional students

Globalization is now central to the mission of most Australian universities. The nature of institutional commitment to globalization takes many forms, including the establishment of off-shore campuses and the development of tailored interdisciplinary courses and subjects. Central to many university strategies are also the provision of languages other than English and the promotion of outbound mobility programs, in which students travel for offshore study that is typically tied to their course, or for internships or other experiential learning opportunities that may or may not receive academic credit. Language study and outbound mobility thus form twin pillars of globalization strategies, and are reflected in Australian Government policies such as the New Colombo Plan, the establishment of a target for 40 per cent of Year 12 students to study a foreign language, and the restriction on universities closing any course seen to involve a strategic language (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2014).