Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. reimbursement (n.) – the repayment of the exact amount spent by another person
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. reimbursement (n.) – the repayment of the exact amount spent by another person
Example: The insurance company
promises to give reimbursements
in case of emergency expenses.
2. subsidize (v.) – to financially
assist, especially by the government
Example: Students in public
universities pay low tuition fees because the government subsidizes their
education.
3. address (v.) – to deal with or
to discuss
Example: The problem should be addressed
as early as possible before it gets worse.
4. stipulate (v.) – to express a
demand as part of an agreement
Example: The contract stipulates the
total ban of nuclear weapons.
5. rely (v.) – to depend or trust
on something
Example: You can rely on your
friends for help.
Article
Read the text below.
In some European Union countries, students’
education—including the education of European foreign students—is paid for by
governments. However, some E.U. countries are now thinking if they should ask
the countries of foreign students for reimbursement.
According to E.U. guidelines, European
foreign students who study in another E.U. country must pay the same school
fees as native students. This means such foreign students can take advantage
of receiving high quality education at low cost in other E.U. countries.
But these rules may be adding to the financial problems of countries like Austria, where education is provided
for free. Its government has no choice but to completely subsidize the education of foreign students.
To address such problems,
Salzburg state president Gabriele Burgstaller suggests a European-wide
reimbursement system, wherein countries help pay some part of the costs of
educating their own students in any E.U. country. He says the system would be
a financial answer as well as a way to keep good relationships with fellow E.U.
nations.
However, other experts argue that reimbursement
is not necessary, because host countries economically benefit from the
foreign students who stay and work after finishing their studies.
While this idea remains a suggestion, a
system of reimbursement already exists between Scandinavian countries
(Denmark, Norway and Sweden) and Finland. Their agreement stipulates governments pay $3,890 per
student each year to the host countries.
Although this does not pay for the full
amount of the students' expenses, it shows that the responsibility for a
student’s education does not rely on the host country alone. It also
shows that students can rely on their own governments for funding.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
● In some European countries, education is free. Do you
think governments should provide free education to all students? Please explain
your answer.
● Can you say that education is a top priority of your
government? Why or why not?
Discussion B
● How important is it for countries to have foreign
students?
● How can governments encourage more foreign students to
study in their schools?