Australia's universities have much to gain from welcoming the next wave of young scholars from the Middle East.

That is according to speakers at a Rockhampton Campus workshop (June 02), who outlined how general awareness and small concessions could led to long-term success.

C Management Services GM Commercial Operations Geoff Wessling, with Dr Ali Abusalem (UAE Embassy Academic Advisor) and Nihad Khalil (International Group of Educational Consultancy)

Speakers at the workshop included UAE Embassy Academic Advisor Dr Abli Abusalem, International Group of Educational Consultancy Managing Director Nihad Khalil and C Management Services GM Commercial Operations Geoff Wessling.

Audience members heard how the Middle Eastern countries had a youthful population, in constrast to the aging profile in Australia and other western countries.

This youth factor, combined with plenty of scholarship support from Middle Eastern governments, meant Australia had much to gain by being accommodating.

One of the long-term benefits, particularly with PhD graduates, is that they will return to take high-profile positions within their home governments. If they have a good experience, they will be strong ambassadors for Australia and can promote our institutions.

LINK for Uni underscores care for international students 

The workshop participants heard that:

- Universities could help lead the challenge of reducing stereotyping of people from the Middle East, which has emerged since 9/11;

- Universities should understand the Middle Eastern students come from the 'lecturer as God'  tradition, with exams the focus, and have to be coaxed into class discussions, project work and group assignments;

- Middle Eastern students will tend to seek help and use student support resources to balance their different learning styles;

- Middle Eastern students will need help to locate halal food and places to worship;

- Universities should not rely on one-off Orientation Week sessions to introduce academic life. The successful* Principles of University Learning elective run by CQUniversity's Australian International Campuses and similar initiatives are vital;

- Universities should understand that Middle Eastern youth came from backgrounds stressing honour, family loyalty/obligation and respect for adults;

- Alumni programs should forge relationships with Middle Eastern students and better map the pathways of graduates to benefit from their roles when they return home.

* Principles of University Learning comparisons show that students who have taken this elective have more academic success and fewer problems with plagiarism.