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Mexico: New options for study abroad
As Mexicans find it more difficult to obtain student visas to study in the United States, many are looking elsewhere to continue their education abroad.Australia is one option. Although the country may be distant geographically (it's a 16-hour trip by air from Mexico), its reputation for welcoming foreigners and respecting diversity makes it attractive to foreign students. âSydney is one of the most multicultural cities in the world with people from 180 nations speaking 140 languages,â says the catalogue from the University of Sydney. In a recent interview with Benjamin de la Cueva, director of the office for Australian and New Zealand Education in Mexico, he spoke about the advantages of seeking higher education Down Under. âAustralia is seen as an exotic paradise,â says De la Cueva. âSnow never falls and the cost of living is lower than in the United States or the United Kingdom.â Ditto, he added, for New Zealand. There are 39 institutions of higher learning in Australia and they are cheaper than the top private universities in Mexico. The schools require a score of about 580 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), more than the standard 550 most other English-speaking countries call for. âBecause Australian universities demand a high level of English, they tend to get a privileged Mexican student,â says De la Cueva. Australians generally know very little about Mexico and often have stereotypical images of the country and people. Heh, sounds familiar for many of us in the US... âThey have rarely had the desire to go to Mexico but because they have met such outstanding Mexican students, they are now more willing to visit,â he said. The Australian government is very conscious of the benefits of receiving foreign students. Aside from broadening the horizons of Australians, they boost the country economically, and help the tourism industry when their families come to visit. More importantly, the network of friendships established at a university has helped to encourage trade when foreign students return to their countries and become leaders in business and politics. Posted by: Gleretch Unans6034 2005-08-20 |
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