Three decades ago, I embarked on an exciting adventure to Harvard to complete a graduate degree, accompanied by my wife and two young children. The little one was 10 weeks old.
It is difficult to imagine the experience of an international student today at Harvard.
Learning via press release that the Donald Trump administration seeks to stop you from graduating while shaming you as an illegal immigrant. It must be so bewildering, so frightening.
My classmates at Harvard came from 70 different countries. Many are now senior politicians and public servants, or chief executives running big organisations around the world. Among the seven Australians with me were a chief medical officer and a psychiatrist who became a national leader in mental health.
Great universities are, by definition, international institutions. Promising students gather to learn from their professors and, importantly, from one another. Now more than ever, leaders need to be globally aware and act as global citizens.
Last month, I met with some brilliant University of Sydney graduates from varied fields, all now making their mark at Harvard. Each relishes their opportunity in a global community of scholars that has been thriving for nearly 400 years.
Today, the panic deliberately triggered by the announcement upends their lives. What happens to all that investment to get there and the progress of their degree? And is it possible they could suddenly be an illegal immigrant?
They are affected the most, but we are all impacted by the attack on Harvard. Its extraordinarily broad and brilliant research collaborations are fuelled by the finest minds from around the world, including many Australians.
Great universities are, by definition, international institutions ... Now more than ever, leaders need to be globally aware and act as global citizens.
Professor Mark Scott
Vice-Chancellor and President
Like in Australia, US university research activity is funded by government grants, philanthropy and the income generated by international students. All three of these streams are under fire in the US, and a decline in vital research work seems inevitable.
The Trump administration claims its actions are tied to ongoing campus protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
However, many American educators think the hidden motive is to financially damage the institution that has educated many critics of Trump’s agenda.
Harvard has recently released major reports outlining strategies to combat antisemitism and other forms of racism.
There is no doubt that many university communities around the world are working hard to deliver education that supports free speech, while remaining safe, supportive and welcoming to all.
Last year, the University of Sydney experienced a long-running encampment that was deeply challenging for many of our students and staff, particularly our Jewish community. The University has learnt many lessons from its initial response and has undertaken a thorough review and implemented a new campus access policy. Since then, there’s been a significant reduction in antisemitism-related complaints.
This work, keeping our campuses safe, is important and needs community engagement and support. But for international students and research to become collateral damage in the fallout could have long-term global consequences.
The research that happens at Harvard benefits us all. For example, last year’s Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine went to a Harvard researcher responsible for discovering microRNAs, which has generated therapies used to treat heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. There are few innovations in our modern lives untouched by research connected to Harvard.
Leading Australian universities are often research partners with Harvard. At Sydney, this decade, Harvard is our top collaborating institution globally in terms of joint publications, mainly in biomedical and clinical sciences, physical sciences and health sciences. Wounding Harvard wounds research efforts globally.
Despite the worry about what is happening in America, it is important to bring some lessons closer to home.
Many international students in Australia have shared with me feeling bereft regarding the public discourse about their presence. Students who have made extraordinary sacrifices to study here are being accused of everything from housing shortage to driving inflation.
Astute observers understand that beyond economic benefits, the soft power benefits of international students cannot be overstated. The next generation of government, business and community leaders across the region: educated in Australia, friends of Australia, champions of Australia. Priceless.
In the US, banning international students at Harvard is a weapon to financially cripple the university.
But it is made possible as a weapon because of the messy and erratic ongoing attacks on immigrants and outsiders and non-Americans. At the end of that road there is a loud and consistent “go-home” message, delivered to international students at Harvard last week.
With the Albanese government’s re-election, many who care passionately about universities, teaching and research, global collaboration and soft power hope to have a more grown-up conversation about international students rather than a continuation of the recent “race-to-the-bottom”.
It’s important to acknowledge their importance and their contribution. Australia needs sensible policies to plan and manage their numbers. Universities need to collaborate effectively with government to maximise the benefits and opportunities that come from having global, world-class universities. And international students should be welcomed with gratitude and respect.
Donald Trump often suggests he understands global complexities better than anyone and wants to teach the world.
It is important to take the right lessons from what he is teaching today.
Manual Name : Professor Mark Scott
Manual Description : Vice-Chancellor and President
Manual Address :
Manual Addition Info Title :
Manual Addition Info Content :
Manual Type : profile
_self
Auto Type : contact
Auto Addition Title :
Auto Addition Content :
Auto Name : true
Auto Position : true
Auto Phone Number : false
Auto Mobile Number : true
Auto Email Address : true
Auto Address : false
UUID : M-SCOTT
Media contact
Manual Name :
Manual Description :
Manual Address :
Manual Addition Info Title :
Manual Addition Info Content :
Manual Type : contact
_self
Auto Type : contact
Auto Addition Title :
Auto Addition Content :
Auto Name : true
Auto Position : true
Auto Phone Number : false
Auto Mobile Number : true
Auto Email Address : true
Auto Address : false
UUID : M-OFFICE