Nitin Garg's murder prompts call for global security agency
The recent murder of Indian student Nitin Garg in Australia has led to calls to governments worldwide to set up a cross-border agency to improve security for international students.
The recent murder of Indian student Nitin Garg in Australia has led to calls to governments worldwide to set up a cross-border agency to improve security for international students.
Thousands of Indian students travel to Britain, US and Australia, among other countries, to study. They are part of a large number of international students from various countries who go abroad and enrol on courses.
At the recent World Universities Forum in Davos, Switzerland, delegates demanded that governments unite to tackle the problem of international student security as a matter of "global public good."
Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at the University of Melbourne, said that worries about the safety of cross-border students went beyond higher education and the global knowledge economy, and touch "the future world society and civil culture."
In a speech entitled "International student security: globalisation, state, university," Marginson referred to Garg’s murder and accused the Australian Government of being "in denial" by arguing that racism is not a factor in the attacks and failing to give students more protection.
He said: "There is not enough official and civil concern about international student security in Australia.
Australia has taken little action to tackle the problem of international student safety, while denying racism is a factor," Marginson added.