Melbourne Graduate School of Education Centre for the Study of Higher Education

The impact of English language proficiency and workplace readiness on employment outcomes and performance of tertiary international students

Sophie Arkoudis (Project Director) with co-researchers Lesleyanne Hawthorne (Melbourne), Chi Baik, Graeme Hawthorne (Melbourne) Kieran O'Loughlin (Melbourne), Dan Leach (Melbourne) and Emmaline Bexley
Funded by: Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Australian Government
Date: 2008

This project examines the influence of English language proficiency (ELP) on workplace readiness and employment outcomes for international students and graduates who seek to work in Australia. Through a detailed review of relevant literature, semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups, and quantitative analyses of Australian 2006 Census data, Australian Education International (AEI) data and the former Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia (October 2005 and October 2006) the project finds that international students' employment outcomes are not as good as their Australian domestic counterparts and that they face greater challenges in finding full-time employment after graduation.

The resulting report suggests policies and practices that support integrated approaches for enhancing English language proficiency and workplace readiness within educational institutions, as well as increasing international students' awareness of the value of the experiences and skills they can develop outside of their studies.