Who do you think you are? Profile of international students in a private HE provider pathway program: implications for international education

In recent decades, higher education (HE) in Australia has undergone enormous changes, not least of which is the composition of the student population, most markedly reflected in the large numbers of international students who avail themselves of pathway programs offered by private HE providers. The significance of the international student market in Australia, as elsewhere, means that research in this area is of great importance for educational institutions generally, and for private HE providers in particular, not only in economic terms, but also to understand their clientele (the students) in broader terms, in order to gain in-depth knowledge about what constitutes HE today. This case study examines the current profile of international students in a private HE provider pathway program in Sydney, Australia. What emerges is a profile of a young single adult, mainly of Asian descent, not entirely confident of the level of his/her English language but aware of the linguistic currency it represents and its impact on classroom dynamics. Such a student attaches great importance to the student–teacher relationship. Due to the restricted nature of the preliminary findings within a very specific location, at this stage inferences and conclusions can only be tentative.