A tragic tale of lost talent, miscommunication and misplaced priorities
The dilemma facing International students and graduates: the skills migration department
The result?
It sends Australia's plan of meeting skill shortages in the ruins. The cycle keeps going, and we have to get more and more international students - ah we can't help it.
Good for the $40B+ economy though, right? Yeah, in the short term, sure, but when the nation wanted computer scientists and it got Uber drivers all along, that's not maintaining Australia's competitive advantage
International students are blamed. "They're only here to take away from us anyways" (perfect example of fixed, zero-sum mindset), some political far right would say in comments section on Instagram and Facebook. There's something missing here, on the government's part and that of people's. And that something is empathy.
International students, as soon as they graduate, are faced with the fact that almost 70% (that's 7 out of 10) jobs are not for them to even apply. In bold letters it would say: "Only open to permanent residents and citizens", which translates to: 'Get cornered. It's completely fair. You took the leap; not us'. And that is the ground reality. Most international students do not find skilled jobs after graduation
What follows is what I call a vicious cycle trap. The highly qualified international graduate who could contribute to helping set up an excellent data infrastructure so there's solid communication between government departments (*sarcasm intended*), all of a sudden is picking-up and dropping-off people, with his degrees rotting in a drawer and his knowledge in some far forgotten corner of his memory. Several years down the line, you would see them still driving an Uber. "I wish I could stay in my profession" are the words you hear from them. "I think it was me. I could have tried harder". Somewhat correct. Job search does need a strategy. But, anyone trying to survive would have to fall into the trap.
The outcome: a government blames the previous government for not setting the right priorities, but has a hard time reaching roots (yes, multiple roots) of the problem itself. Employers are desperately looking for the right talent. The international graduate is driving an Uber, while his family back home who spent a fortune in getting him a master's degree, uninformed of the entire misadventure, are feeling proud.
What could the government do?
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Consider the long-term effects. It helps the economy short term, sure. It helps your campaign, sure. You don't want to lose vote by not creating more jobs by having another huge cohort of international students; a fall in international student number is inevitable if skill shortages are actually met as initially planned. But, the current approach is creating a lose-lose scenario in the long term. You are getting more international students to meet skill shortages but obstruct 70% of their path getting to that point.
Imagine Australia actually utilising the talent and growing the economic pie far beyond $40B to hundreds of billions and beyond. Imagine Australia's own Silicon Valley equivalent.
On behalf of international students:
**Use regulations and/or incentives to encourage employers
Let dreams not die before they take off.
If you are an international graduate, drop a follow, or connect with me here. I will be posting strategies to use the room you have to realise your dreams, while we raise common challenges international students face in helping Australia's development.