Parliamentary Hearing Spotlights Higher Education's Central Role in Australia's Asia Capability

The Inquiry into Building Australia's Asia Capability Through Education

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education has launched a critical inquiry into how Australia's education system can foster greater Asia capability, extending beyond classrooms to workforce and society. 54 Adopted in September 2025, the inquiry addresses a long-standing gap in Australia's regional engagement skills, prompted by Minister Jason Clare. With submissions closed and multiple public hearings held, the focus remains on practical reforms to equip Australians for Asia's economic and strategic shifts.

Today's Public Hearing Spotlights Higher Education's Role

On March 18, 2026, the committee convenes in Canberra's Committee Room 2R1 from 11:30am to 2:30pm AEDT, centering the education system in discussions on Asia capability. 55 Chair Hon Tim Watts MP emphasized, “Australia’s future in our region depends on our ability to understand it deeply and engage with it confidently.” Witnesses from humanities, social sciences, language education, and international relations will explore how universities and colleges build cultural, historical, and linguistic expertise essential for regional navigation.

This hearing builds on prior sessions, including Department of Education input in October 2025 and Asian Australian Voices in November, culminating evidence for a final report advocating long-term measures.

Why Asia Capability Matters for Australian Higher Education

Australia's prosperity hinges on Asia, its largest trading partner bloc, yet domestic expertise lags. Universities bridge this through advanced Asian studies, languages, and research, producing graduates for diplomacy, business, and policy. The inquiry highlights higher education's pivot role amid declining school pipelines, ensuring deep knowledge sustains national interests. 110

Crisis in Asian Language Enrollments at Universities

Domestic student loads in Eastern, Southeast, and Southern Asian languages plummeted 43% from 3,384 in 2016 to 1,931 in 2024, while overall loads stayed flat. 110 At UNSW, Chinese enrollments fell 58% since 2018, Japanese 19%; nationally, Indonesian dropped over 50% from 2010-2023, with barely 500 domestic students in Bahasa Indonesia in 2023. 108 67 Universities warn of 'extinction' of programs due to small classes (average 20-38 students) and unsustainable costs.

• 75% decline in Southeast Asian languages at universities 2004-2022.
• Fewer than 5 Australians graduating annually from honors Chinese with language proficiency.
• Job-ready Graduates (JRG) package exacerbated drops, with 18% EFTSL fall in Asian languages 2021-2022 at Melbourne. 111

Policy Impacts: Job-Ready Graduates and Funding Shortfalls

The 2021 JRG package hiked fees for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS)—where 60% of language students enroll—by up to 82%, while cutting language funding. Go8 notes 18% HASS commencements decline since 2020. Universities Australia calls for bundling fees and direct funding; Melbourne urges JRG replacement to fix perverse incentives like funding caps. 109 110

Universities Australia's full submission details these distortions.

Leading University Programs in Asia Studies

Australian universities host world-class Asia-focused initiatives:

• ANU College of Asia & the Pacific: Premier research hub with multidisciplinary scholars on Asia-Pacific policy, languages like Burmese, Hindi.
• Melbourne Asia Institute: Supports 15 languages (Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Arabic), 1,802 students in 2025; Asialink Leaders Program builds business-diplomacy skills. 111
• UNSW Asia programs: Immersive electives, Cultural Café events fostering literacy. 108
• University of Sydney China Studies Centre: Active in national efforts for research-educational Asia engagement.

These centers offer degrees, diplomas, certificates blending language with regional analysis.

Research Collaborations Driving Knowledge Exchange

Australia co-authored 52,000+ bilateral publications with 49 Asian countries in 2023 (35% of collaborations, 5x growth since 2009). 110 Go8: 18,000 ASEAN pubs 2020-2024, citations 3x global average. Partnerships via Global Science Fund, ASEAN grants inform policy, build trust.

New Colombo Plan: Mobility Under Pressure

Since 2014, NCP funded 55,000+ immersions, language training, internships. 2025: 3,463 UA students ($22.4m), down 40% from 2024 due to 4-week minimum duration excluding short programs. 110 Melbourne awarded 1,100+ grants. Recommendations: restore flexibility, boost funding for deeper engagement.

The School-to-University Pipeline Challenge

Year 12 language enrollment: 7.6% (down from 10.5% 2013). Victoria's mandatory model yields 18% completion vs NSW 8%. Universities call for teacher training investment, virtual schools, incentives to feed higher ed. 111

University Submissions: Unified Call for Reform

University of Melbourne submission outlines 10 reforms. 111

Implications for Higher Ed Careers and Jobs

Declining programs threaten lecturer positions in Asian studies, but demand grows for Asia-capable academics in research, policy. Unis seek incentives for advanced honors/postgrad to build pipeline of experts.

Photo by Martin Foskett on Unsplash

Future Outlook and Actionable Insights

The inquiry's report could catalyze bipartisan strategy, embedding Asia capability in Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). Universities urge whole-government coordination, funding parity, awareness campaigns. For educators: integrate Asia modules; students: pursue NCP; policymakers: prioritize pipeline.

Australia risks 'strangers in own region' without action. 35