I see contradictory reports from time to time, but this one really caught my eye.
According to research conducted by IDP, Australia was ranked the safest place for International students – Here is the bummer, Out of 6000 International who participated in the survey, 40% of them were Indians. (source)
nearly 40 per cent of respondents ticked Australia as the safest place when asked to choose from a list comprising Australia, the US, Britain, New Zealand and Canada. The US ranked last for safety, with 4.3 per cent.
Of those surveyed, 1130 Indian students ranked Australia No.1 for safety, access to permanent residency, access to student visas and best government policies to protect international students.
But students did not believe Australia offered the most prestigious education system. On this measure, the US rated most highly (42 per cent), followed by Britain (28 per cent) and Australia (15 per cent). (source)
I really dont know what to make of this survey. Either the super extensive media coverage ramming Australia as one of the most non-safest place for students or this report which just came out!
It may be very much possible that, this survey might be a little skewed (you know how easy it is to come out with these kind of surveys) to ensure that battered Australian Education image gets a uplift.
It may also be very much possible that Indian media blew this issue out of proportion – char ane ki murgi barah ane ka masala !
One thing is for sure, either one of them is wrong.
What do you think? who is right and who is wrong?
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I’d like to see the complete methodology in the survey. However, I’d say it’s quite plausible.
The survey apparently shows UK as being a less safe destination than Australia. This is certainly believable, given that “racially aggravated crimes” are recorded by the police there, and there seems to be very large number of them per year. In 2006, there were 41, 000 such racially aggravated crimes, according to the British Ministry of justice, mostly against Asians (usually Indians and Pakistanis).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2753846.ece
Against real racial crime stats like that, the Indian media has reported only 30 assaults in Australia, over a period of 5 months, some of which aren’t racially motivated.
People who intend to get loans or spend their life savings on getting a decent education in the First World will do their research, and find out stuff like this.
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