Central Queensland University says its 24% increase in international student enrolments in 2005 -- at a time when some Australian universities are winding down commercial activities and international enrolments across the sector are slowing down -- is due to its ability to understand the needs and wants of international students and responding to them.

“To put in bluntly we’ve put more effort into understanding the dynamics of the international student market place,” explained CQU Vice Chancellor and President John Rickard.

Melbourne University Private recently announced it would shut its doors. The number of international students starting university to March rose by 3.3 per cent, significantly less than the 8.6 per cent at the same time last year according to Australian Education International.

“If you talk to students and interact with them intensively like we do, you’ll understand [what] they want,” added Professor Rickard. CQU delivers programs to international students in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney CBDs and on the Gold Coast in a joint venture with its commercial partner, C-Management Services.

Professor Rickard said much of the University’s success is due to its quality-assured programs, customer-service focus, its understanding of students’ cultural needs and its long-standing joint venture.

“Our partner is excellent, truly outstanding, in administering university campuses. The partnership is about bringing the best the uni has to offer – those things that CQU holds dear in an academic sense – with the best the commercial partner can bring in terms of efficiency and extensive support services,” explained Professor Rickard.

Most classes on CQU International campuses contain about 25 to 30 students. Students make extensive use of the University’s electronic resources and are offered additional personal support and extra help.

“The level of individual service, support and interaction – in my view – greatly exceeds that of which other international students receive at long established Australian universities. CQU’s model is a different model... and it works wonderfully well,” Professor Rickard added.

The Vice Chancellor’s comments were made during a taped interview for a story on the higher education crisis to be aired on ABC’s Four Corners on 27 June 830pm.