Certain young, brilliant people catch everyone’s attention. Arab News met one of them back in 2001.
Fouad’s goal in life is to lead a world-class orchestra — an unusual pursuit in the Middle East. In 2001, he was still in high school and all dreams seemed possible. However, since then he has realized that achieving his goal may be more difficult than he first imagined.
When the time came to apply for university, Fouad had to find a school his parents could afford. He decided that Australia offered him the best choice. He wrote to universities there and also discovered IDP Education Australia, a global organization which assists students pursuing higher studies in Australia.
Even though he was desperate to study music, Fouad’s parents advised him to choose a practical field and keep music as a hobby. Fouad acquiesced; but it was hard.
“I thought of spending my life doing a job which would simply allow me to eat,” he explained. “The years of my future stretched out barren before me.”
By July 2002, Fouad applied to five Australian universities to study Telecom & Information Systems. In September, he was accepted by all of them. He chose the University of New South Wales (UNSW), one of the largest, most respected schools in Australia.
Fouad and his entire family were thrilled. It was at this time that Fouad spoke seriously to his parents.
“I told them that the study of music was more than just an adolescent fantasy,” he said. “It was my whole focus of being.”
Fouad’s parents finally realized his determination and they agreed he could pursue his dream.
UNSW allowed him to change his major to Music Orchestration & Vocals. Fouad mailed the required enrolment deposit and waited for the confirmation letter from the university.
It never came.
In January 2003, Fouad sent Arab News a Letter to the Editor entitled “Right to Education.” It mentioned the fact that he was to be denied the right to study in Australia due to the heavy financial burden placed on him according to Australian government regulations in reference to his Lebanese nationality.
In the last two years, foreign students have become big business in Australia. According to an Australian government report on the higher education sector, excerpts of which were published in “The Age,” the Australian economy’s income from overseas students was anticipated to hit $5 billion in 2002.
Australian higher education institutions had an overseas student enrolment of 124,539 in 2001. This was a 37 percent increase on 1999.
One way the Australian government manages the issuance of visas to foreign students is to divide the nations of the world into five different categories. This assessment is based in part on the number of nationals of a country who break visa regulations and become illegal residents of Australia. Visa requirements for students from a nation assessed as category four will be much higher than for students applying from a category one nation. Unfortunately, when applying to universities in Australia, Fouad did not know that Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan and a few other nations are category 4. All GCC countries are category 2.
Visas for higher education in Australia are issued for the entire course of study. In Fouad’s case, this meant five years. In addition to English language proficiency, good health and the required academic ability, category four students must show that they have, as cash in hand, all funds needed for both studies and living expenses for their entire course.
To be issued an Australian student visa, Fouad had to prove that either he, his parents or his grandparents had $100,000 cash. They didn’t have it. A suggestion was made that they take a loan for the full amount.
Fouad’s family felt this was unacceptable.
“Fouad is crushed and depressed,” said his mother. “He is now a year behind in his studies. We can afford to pay year by year and Fouad has an uncle in Australia who would help with living expenses. But because we are category four this is not allowed. We wish the need for a huge cash guarantee had been made clear at the start.”
Arab News contacted the country manager of IDP, Mohammed Haider, to inquire why Fouad had not been told about the cash guarantee.
“IDP has student counselors based in Jeddah and Riyadh. Everywhere else in Saudi Arabia, Attar Travel assists us in handing out and collecting documents and brochures. Fouad collected brochures and applications from Attar Travel in Alkhobar, but there was no one there who could advise him,” Haider explained.
“Most students from the Eastern Province go to Bahrain for counseling and the required medical checks.”
The sad fact is that Fouad fell through the cracks at several points in the system. Haider agreed that counseling is essential for students before they consider applying to study in Australia.
“The regulations in Australia are different than those of other nations where students in the Middle East are used to applying. Frankly, Middle Eastern students need to be spoon-fed information,” he said. “All students planning to study in Australia must prove their financial ability to varying degrees depending on their category of assessment. Students should not plan to support their education by working in Australia during their studies.”
Haider said that through IDP, 700 Saudi students have submitted applications for Australia’s 2004-2005 academic year. Many are to be sponsored by various ministries.
All this is wonderful, but it won’t help Fouad get back a wasted year.
Arab News Features 21 February 2003