The DASSH submission to the Building Asia Capability inquiry by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education’s has been spotlighted Research Professional News. Jenny Sinclair has written that Job-Ready Graduates package and undervaluing of regional knowledge is leading to reduced student demand for Asian language studies.
Based on consultation with members, our submission highlighted that languages, international and culturally focused programs are at risk of falling student demand due to a lack of signalling about the value and employability of cultural knowledges and competencies.
“The Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities told the inquiry that “language and international studies are at risk in Australia and this is fundamentally eroding our Asia capability along with other sovereign capabilities that ensure regional and economic security”. Only 14 Asia-Pacific languages are offered at university level in Australia, it said.
“The extensive skills, career pathways and opportunities associated with the study of languages and culture are not being communicated to prospective students,” the council wrote, and there is a “major disconnect” between schools and tertiary institutions.
Language studies are undervalued and not promoted as making people more employable, despite several Australian universities running campuses in south-east Asia, the deans said.
They added that as “the world’s most populous democracy and the second-largest country for international student enrolments in Australia”, India should be “a priority for education, diplomacy and security”.