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20 Apr, 2015

Australia charts 10-year plan to boost international education, training

Canberra, 20 April 2015, Austrade media release – Austrade, the Australian Government’s international education promotion agency, is holding a series of open workshops across Australia seeking input on future directions for Australia’s international education and training sector.

The workshops are part of the AIE 2025 Roadshow and will help develop a long-term market plan, Australian International Education (AIE) 2025. They are open to all industry representatives and interested parties.

Austrade’s General Manager, Education, John Angley, said international education contributed $17.6 billion to the national economy last year, making it Australia’s fourth-biggest export, and this could grow considerably.

“To unlock the potential we are seeking creative and bold thinking to identify sustainable opportunities matching Australia’s strengths and global trends,” Mr Angley said.

“We need ongoing investment and innovation to recruit students to Australia and to build on opportunities to deliver Australian courses, skills and content in overseas countries, often with local partners,” he said.

“As highlighted by Trade and Investment Minister, Andrew Robb, there is potential not only to double the number of students coming to Australia, but also to engage millions of people in their own countries in Australian education, training and skills, through offshore delivery, blended learning and digital technologies,” Mr Angley said.

Development of the plan will complement the Draft National Strategy for International Education launched by Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne, on 1 April 2015. The plan aims to support a competitive, innovative and sustainable industry and generate jobs and prosperity for Australia and our partners around the world.

So far the AIE 2025 roadshow has met with more than 300 people in Darwin, Townsville, Sydney and Brisbane. Austrade invites participation in upcoming workshops in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart and via a webinar on 28 April.

Download: A vision for Australian international education