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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
For nearly a decade, the popularity of Australian universities rose rapidly among Indian students, and the number of those heading to the country for higher education rose from about 10,000 in 2001 to more than 70,000 last year.
But that could change this year due to a string of negative publicity1 generated by attacks on Indian students in Australia.
A travel advisory2 by the Indian government earlier this week warned that Indian students in Australia face an increased risk of assault. It was issued after an Indian graduate was stabbed to death in Melbourne. His stabbing came on the heels of a spate3 of attacks on Indian students in Australia in recent months, which the Indian media have dubbed4 as racist5.
It is a charge that Australian officials have strongly denied. They say the attacks are purely6 criminal, and the country is safe for foreign students.
Nevertheless, as concerns rose in India, foreign minister S.M. Krishna called on Indians to assess their options while exploring the possibility of studying in Australia.
"I would suggest that the Indian parents to be discreet7 and they better get informed," Krishna said.
Education consultants8 in India say they anticipate a sharp drop in the numbers of Indian students enrolling9 in Australian universities. They point out that besides the attacks on students, there also has been adverse10 publicity about unscrupulous migration11 agents and sub standard courses in some private colleges.
Inder Panjwani, general secretary of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in New Delhi says very few people are now turning up for information.
"As I can see there is a drop in inquiries12 because of a lot of fear psychosis. The confidence level cannot just be increased," Panjwani said.
Australian officials agree that the country's over two billion dollar education trade with India could be hit. But they say this could also be the result of the global recession, and the rising cost of living in Australia due to the strength of the Australian dollar.
Foreign universities have been actively13 targeting India's growing middle class, whose children head out to other countries due to intense competition for the limited high quality universities at home. Australia, the United States and Britain have emerged as the most popular destinations for these students who spend an estimated $13 billion every year on education in foreign countries.
1 publicity | |
n.众所周知,闻名;宣传,广告 | |
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2 advisory | |
adj.劝告的,忠告的,顾问的,提供咨询 | |
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3 spate | |
n.泛滥,洪水,突然的一阵 | |
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4 dubbed | |
v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 );把…称为;配音;复制 | |
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5 racist | |
n.种族主义者,种族主义分子 | |
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6 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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7 discreet | |
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的 | |
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8 consultants | |
顾问( consultant的名词复数 ); 高级顾问医生,会诊医生 | |
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9 enrolling | |
v.招收( enrol的现在分词 );吸收;入学;加入;[亦作enrol]( enroll的现在分词 );登记,招收,使入伍(或入会、入学等),参加,成为成员;记入名册;卷起,包起 | |
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10 adverse | |
adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的 | |
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11 migration | |
n.迁移,移居,(鸟类等的)迁徙 | |
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12 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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13 actively | |
adv.积极地,勤奋地 | |
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