SYDNEY: Australians are overwhelmingly supportive of international students, a new poll showing nearly three-quarters of people want them to stay in the country after they finish their degrees.
The Universities Australia survey of 1,000 people and 300 businesses found just 11 per cent of the public and 13 per cent of businesses felt negatively about full fee paying international students, News Limited Network reported.
And 72 per cent of people and 80 per cent of businesses said they should be encouraged to stay in Australia, especially if they were sponsored in a job.
“People appreciate the social, cultural and economic benefits of international students,” the report said.
It also found nearly nine-in-10 people would encourage their own child to attend university and 80 per cent agreed Australia had to increase its numbers of graduates over the next decade.
People overwhelmingly nominated education for skilled and professional jobs as a university’s key function, with only 17 per cent recognising their research role.
More than half of respondents said university funding was too low.