Australia urged to offer permanent residency to top PhD students

Source: Radio Australia

 

Australia's top eight universities have warned the country's economic development could suffer if the government doesn't do more to attract top research talent. They say there's a global war to entice the best, and they've recommended Canberra hold out the prospect of permanent residency in Australia for those who complete their PhD's in Australia. The universities' recommendation comes as the Rudd government reviews its skilled migration program.


Presenter: Linda Mottram
Speakers:Professor Max King, Monash University, Melbourne; Nazneen Chowdhury, PhD student, Australian National University.


MOTTRAM: It may seem counter-intuitive for an economy so heavily dependent on mining, but Australia has a growing shortage of PhD level resources and geology students. It also lacks researchers at the top levels in maths, statistics and engineering. And in some of those areas, projections are it's only going to get worse. Like many countries Australia's keen to attract overseas talent to fill the gaps. But Professor Max King from Melbourne's Monash University says it's a battle.


KING: There is a talent war going on around the world globally, so countries are looking towards recruiting really good researchers.


MOTTRAM: The issue is at the heart of a submission from the Group of Eight .. as Australia's top eight universities call themselves .. to the Rudd government's review of the country's skilled migration program.


And it's not all about bolstering the mining sector. It's about the knowledge economy, Professof King says.


KING: And if we could find a cure for cancer say and commercialise it, the rewards to our economy from doing that would be equivalent I think to finding a major oil field in Australia.


MOTTRAM: Indeed the universities make what they call a blunt point at the outset of their submission. Migration policy, they say, should be driven by Australia's economic and social needs as well as its international responsibilities.


At present, PhD graduates can apply for a skilled graduate visa, along with any other skilled applicants. It offers 18 months to work with no clear offer of eventual permanency. All skilled groups, compete together.


The universities want the government to create a new, separate visa category, specifically for PhD students. They'd get a three year post-graduate residency to extend themselves and gain experience, and a clear pathway to permanent residency if they want it.


Bangladeshi PhD student, Nazneen Chawdhury, is working on the economics of research at the Australian National University in Canberra.


CHAWDHURY: Worldwide the shortage of researchers is widely recognised. So Australia also has the shortage of researchers. So to me this shortage, Australian government should encourage to get more entry of the rearchers.


MOTTRAM: But while the attraction of permanent residency might appeal to some, Ms Chawdhury says flexibility is vital for researchers.


CHAWDHURY: Some courses need longer field work so in that case if you limit that within a certain year you have to finish your PhD it's actually a burden for them. So if there will be flexibility for them I think it would be good.


MOTTRAM: The government's review is due to report in May.