My name is Prof. Giriraj Singh Rampal Singh Shekhawat.
Yes, that Raj Shekhawat.
I am a proud global citizen.
I have been shaped by my experiences across India, the USA, Singapore, New Zealand, the UK, and Australia—each country leaving its mark on me, teaching me something new, expanding my understanding of the world.
And I have given back just as much—through research, mentoring, building teams, and strengthening the very institutions that welcomed me.
So, when people ask me,“Where is home?”—I pause.
Because I don’t belong to just one place. I belong to the world.
Yet, in 2025, why does the idea of being truly global still make some people uncomfortable?
Why, in a country built on migration, do we still hear narratives that question the presence of international students?
I hear it in policy debates, on the news, and in casual conversations:
- “Aren’t they taking jobs from locals?”
- “Aren’t they making rent more expensive?”
- “Aren’t they changing the Australian way of life?”
And with an election on the horizon, these conversations have taken on a sharper, more political edge.
But have we ever stopped to ask: Are these fears grounded in reality, or are they just echoes of the past, resurfacing in new forms?
The Reality Behind the Rhetoric
Let’s step back and reflect.
Why do we assume international students take more than they give, when the data tells a very different story?
- >$40 billion. That’s how much international students contribute to Australia’s economy each year.
- >250,000 jobs. That’s how many Australians directly rely on this sector for their livelihood.
- 1 in 3 international students. That’s how many help create full-time jobs for Australians.
So, if international students are creating jobs, funding research, and sustaining entire industries, why do we still hear the opposite?
Is it because we have been conditioned to look at immigration through a lens of competition rather than collaboration?
What would happen if, instead of seeing international students as outsiders, we recognised them as partners in Australia’s future?
The Housing Crisis: A Convenient Explanation?
The housing crisis is real.
Young Australians are struggling to afford rent. Homeownership feels like an impossible dream. Cost of living pressures are hitting hard.
But is blaming international students the answer?
Housing affordability has been declining for decades, long before international students returned in large numbers. The real issues—underinvestment in housing, unchecked property speculation, and poor planning—run much deeper.
So why do we focus on international students when the root causes are much more complex?
If every international student left tomorrow, would housing suddenly become affordable?
Or would we simply find another group to blame?
Why the Sudden Interest in Asia?
Something interesting is happening in Australian universities.
For years, institutions spoke about engagement with Asia in vague, aspirational terms.
Now, suddenly, universities are racing to sign agreements with India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Why now?
Is it about making education more accessible, strengthening global partnerships, and investing in the next generation?
Or is it about financial survival?
Many universities are still reeling from the impact of COVID-19—billions lost, staff made redundant, research funding slashed.
Now, they are looking to international students—particularly from South Asia—to rebuild.
But have we truly moved beyond the past, or are we seeing a new form of economic dependence unfold?
For centuries, many of these South Asian nations were colonised and exploited for labour and resources.
Today, instead of extracting raw materials, are we extracting human capital—students and tuition fees?
Are these partnerships truly built on mutual respect and shared growth, or are they yet another way for Western institutions to sustain themselves?
And more importantly—if Australia keeps treating international students as a financial necessity rather than a valued part of society, what message are we sending?
What Happens If They Choose to Go Elsewhere?
Here’s something worth thinking about:
Australia needs international students more than international students need Australia.
Other countries—Canada, the UK, the US—are aggressively competing for the same students we hope to attract.
Asian universities themselves are rising, offering high-quality education without the visa hurdles, the racial stereotyping, or the sense of being ‘othered.’
So what happens if students start choosing those options over Australia?
What happens to our universities, our research, our economy, if they simply decide, “We are not welcome here”?
And if that happens, will we look back and ask ourselves: Did we let short-term politics overshadow long-term progress?
A Different Perspective: What If We Chose to See Them as Us?
Next time you walk past an international student, pause for a moment.
What do you see?
Do you see a competitor or a collaborator?
Do you see someone who is taking, or someone who is giving—to our economy, our workforce, our society?
Do you see a foreigner—or do you see a person just like you, searching for opportunity, connection, and a place to belong?
Because the truth is, they are not that different from us.
They are future doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and academics. They are young minds fuelling research and innovation.
They are bridges between cultures, shaping a more interconnected world.
And maybe—just maybe—it’s time we start seeing them not as outsiders, but as part of us.
Because in a world where borders are becoming more blurred, where talent flows across nations, and where diversity strengthens rather than weakens—we are all, in some way, global citizens.
And perhaps, it’s time we start embracing that.
Professor Giriraj Singh Rampal Singh Shekhawat is Dean of Research in Flinders University’s College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. The views expressed are entirely his own.
