Escher’s Staircase: Higher Education and Migration in Australia

Abstract

The role Australian higher education plays for migrants and refugees is shaped by a range of economic, social and political forces. The greatest impact results from significant shifts in immigration and tertiary education policies over the past three decades. The Australian immigration programme is designed to address identified gaps in the labour market by attracting highly skilled and educated migrants. The intake of refugees is limited, with Australia implementing a harsh, highly politicized policy aimed at deterring applicants. Higher education is a key export and universities are heavily dependent on international student revenue. There are clear links between international student dema..