Student Accommodation - Expert Opinion
March 2008
Universities Have To Do More ! - Poor Information Heightens Culture Shock
The Australian - Higher Education Supplement - 6 February 2008 reports
Education has overtaken tourism as the nations biggest services export, increasing by a huge 21 per cent in 2007 to $12.5 billion. The number of international student enrolments rose by 18 per cent on the previous year to more than 450,000.
Yet the authors of a joint Monash University and University of Melbourne study have slammed universities for treating foreign students like " cash cows ". The study also found that foreign students were more likely to be exploited in the private rental accommodation market because of their lack of English skills and ignorance of residential tenancy legislation. The researchers called for urgent action by universities.
But the AVCC Chief Executive rejected the claim that tertiary institutions treated international students like cash cows and don't care about their welfare, saying universities were helping overseas students where they could by providing support services and going into public - private partnerships to construct accommodation for students close to campuses.
A student from India says some international students have " difficulties from the moment they arrive. We don't have enough information before we leave home" she points outs.
International " students who need to find their own accommodation may be too busy doing so to participate properly in university orientation, which means when classes begin they are unsure where and when to go, doubling the disadvantage."
Our Opinion
Auskor Australasia announced plans last month to offer the complete development / management package to the market by the end of 2008.
As a initiative designed to counter a lethargic approach by the tertiary sector in dealing with the rental property crisis across Australia and the particular needs of the international student market, Mr. Geoff Denison, CEO, Auskor Australasia, announced this month plans to offer the market the complete " finance, build and operate " development option by the end of the year.
Mr. Denison said " strategic partnership talks had already began with a number of finance partners and commercial property developers across Australia and Asia.. Interested parties are united in their frustration of the bureaucratic barriers consistently thrown up by the tertiary sector to prevent good quality purpose built student accommodation facilities from ever getting off the ground. "
Next year, Auskor Australasia will be able to offer University partners a model that will " tick all the boxes " ,which is expected to lead to a higher rate of conversion from development enquiry to commitment by the tertiary sector.
" The demand for safe, affordable, purpose built and professionally managed student accommodation has never been greater as students struggle to afford quality accommodation and increasing tuition fees. If the market doesn't embrace strategic partnership opportunities to facilitate an increase of student accommodation stock nationally, it is bound to impact on Australia's ability to maintain, let alone increase international student numbers." said Mr. Denison.
" As it stands today, students are already experiencing bidding wars to secure rental property and there would not appear to be any sign of respite over the next two years at least." said Auskor Australasia's Chief Executive Officer.
Parties interested in joining with Auskor Australasia in a joint venture partnership to finance, build and operate " purpose built " student accommodation should email us for more information.
For more information on existing joint venture development opportunities click here.
SECURE FINANCE THROUGH AUSKOR AUSTRALASIA
Secure finance to develop, purchase or refurbish a " purpose built " student accommodation facility through Auskor Australasia. Enjoy increased credibility and a fast response time when introduced to our financial partners as a client of Auskor Australasia.
For more information
Address: Auskor Australasia; P.O. Box 3379, Rundle Mall, South Australia, 5000, Australia;
Office: + 61 (08) 8337 1660; Mobile: + 61 (0) 421 319 711
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Email: info@auskor.net ; ABN: 062 300 675 840; Skype: auskor.australasia
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