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Industry overview
Australia places a high priority on education and training and is keen to share its expertise with the rest of the world. In 2000, there were 182,000 international students studying at Australian institutions (150,000 onshore and 32,000 offshore).
Enrolments were in:
- universities — 56 per cent
- vocational training institutes and colleges — 17 per cent
- English language programs — 20 per cent
- schools — 7 per cent
In addition, around 25,000 overseas students undertook short-term English language programs and study tourism courses in Australia on tourist or working holiday visas.
To maintain a
Key features of Australia's education and training system:
- Australia offers a wide range of high quality education and training courses through its 10,000 schools, 660 vocational education and training institutions and 39 universities. In addition, many companies are recognised industry trainers in specialist areas, such as information technology and telecommunications. A broad network of community colleges also exists to provide continuing education for adults (lifelong learning).
- At the university level, undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered covering a broad range of disciplines from the humanities and sciences through to media studies, wine marketing and sports management.
- Public and private vocational training institutions deliver programs focused on the workplace, ranging from accounting and applied science to business studies, marketing, travel and tourism and hospitality, as well as trade courses (such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry).
- Australian qualifications are linked nationally so students can advance from each level of study to the next and also move between educational sectors (eg. from a vocational course to a university degree program).
- Institutions use leading-edge technologies and learning methods and offer courses through flexible delivery modes. Australia is an experienced provider of distance education, increasingly using online technologies.
- Many Australian education and training programs are being delivered offshore, which allows students to obtain Australian qualifications in their own country or combine with study in Australia.
- Studying in Australia represents good value for money. Research has shown that, in terms of total costs (including tuition fees and living expenses), Australia is consistently cheaper than the US or Great Britain.
- Australian institutions are the first choice of many students from the Asia Pacific and, increasingly, from North America and Europe.
- Many institutions have strong international student associations and alumni networks.
- Australian institutions are sensitive to religious and cultural needs and provide a range of support and monitoring services.
- Surveys of international students reflect their satisfaction with their studies in Australia, and many graduates go on to high-profile positions in their home countries.
Australian capability
Australia's success in international education is built on a strong partnership between government and the education and training industry.
In 2000, international students numbers studying in Australia (and in Australian study programs overseas) grew by 15 per cent. This compares favourably against 5 per cent overall growth in the US and the UK. Australia now has the largest proportion of international tertiary students per head of university student population (12.6 per cent) of any of the major providers of international education in the world.
In terms of client satisfaction, a government survey of international students who finished a course of study in 1999 found that over 89 per cent were either 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the quality of education in Australia. Moreover, Australia leads the world in legislation to protect the interests of international students — and in regulations that protect the reputation of education and training as a service industry.
Australia also has considerable experience in establishing successful Australian programmes offshore, whether through overseas campuses, partnerships with local institutions, online education programs or various franchise arrangements. This offshore provision means Australian education institutions are very experienced at building linkages and partnerships with a wide range of international organisations in both the private and government sectors.
Australian universities and corporations are world leaders in developing and delivering education and training programs for companies, government departments and aid agencies around the world. Experts in distance education, internet delivery and mixed-mode models, Australia's education and training providers construct programs to client requirements ranging from English as a Second Language (ESL) and basic workplace skills to customised corporate training to sophisticated technical specialisations at the postgraduate level.
The demand for Australian courses overseas reflects the high regard in which the world holds Australian education and training. This growing demand for Australian expertise is also evident in the international mobility of professionals with Australian qualifications, and in the call on Australian expertise in development projects such as those funded by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
How Australian education and training providers engage with international partners
- Formal agreements between institutions, covering staff / student exchanges, research collaboration and qualifications recognition. There are approximately 3000 of these agreements between Australian and overseas universities.
- Assistance with curriculum development and / or operational management.
- Packaging and transfer of intellectual property via licensing or franchising.
- Lecturing (in joint programs or on a consultancy basis).
- In-house delivery of customised training programs (to corporations and government).
- Provision of programs via distance education, online delivery and partnerships.
- Collaborative research projects with industry and government.
- Development of offshore campuses (via joint venture or foreign direct investment).
- Project work via the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, AusAID, non-government organisations and private agencies.
Examples of international engagement by Australian universities:
- The University of Canberra's Centre for Developing Cities has a major contract with the Ministry of Public Works in Indonesia for education and training in urban management.
- Deakin University has, for many years, developed courses for the Ford Motor Company with partner universities in Germany, the US and the UK.
- Monash University has established offshore campuses in Malaysia and South Africa.
- RMIT University established a world-class management centre at Shanghai's prestigious Fudan University.
- Murdoch University offers a Bachelor's degree in media studies in partnership with a private Malaysian broadcaster and educator.
- The University of New South Wales has worked extensively with the Thai Government in establishing the Mae Fa Luang University in Chiang Rai.
- The University of Newcastle's Institute of Coal Research has trained scientists and engineers under a training program established by the United Nations.
- Northern Territory University runs tourism and hospitality courses in India in partnership with a major hotel chain.
- The University of South Australia has established major research contracts with partners in northern and South-East Asia in manufacturing, electronic engineering and telecommunications.
- The University of Southern Queensland has established a distance education centre in Bretton, Germany.
- The Laem Chabang School of Engineering in Thailand is a joint venture project between Swinburne University and a Thai company. The school provides two-year diploma programs in engineering and IT to workers in surrounding industrial estates.
- The University of Wollongong engages in major consultancies with AusAID, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank through its International Business Research Institute.
Some notable achievements
- Australia has produced seven Nobel Prize winners, mainly in physiology, medicine, chemistry and physics. The most recent laureate is Professor Peter Doherty who was awarded the prize in 1996 for his research in biochemistry at the Australian National University.
- Pioneering techniques in the field of medicine have made Australia a world leader in cranio-facial surgery, in-vitro fertilisation and gene shears.
- Other fields of Australian leading-edge expertise include solar power, environmental technology, avionics, marine biology, mining and agriculture.
Export markets
Sources of international students include:
- Asia — 83 per cent
- Europe — 7.5 per cent
- Americas — 4.5 per cent
In 2000, Australia built on its success in traditional Asian markets by expanding into many emerging markets including:
- Europe — 33 per cent increase
- North and South America — 38 per cent increase
- Africa — 36 per cent increase
- Bangladesh — 70 per cent increase
- Philippines — 31 per cent increase
This reflects a growing worldwide recognition of the quality and value of Australian education.
Government bodies
Australian Education International
The international arm of the Department of Education, Science and Training.
Website:
Department of Education, Science and Training
The Australian Government department responsible for policy relating to education and training in Australia.
Website:
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Responsible for Australia's foreign and trade policy.
Website:
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
The government department responsible for developing and administering student visa policy and legislation affecting overseas students.
Website:
Study in Australia
Official website for international students.
Website:
State departments of education (government schools and institutes of Technical and Further Education)
Australian Capital Territory:
New South Wales:
Northern Territory:
Queensland:
South Australia:
Tasmania:
Victoria:
Western Australia:
State development departments
Australian Capital Territory: Business Gateway:
New South Wales: Department of State and Regional Development:
Northern Territory: Department of Industries and Business:
Queensland: Department of State Development:
South Australia: Department of Industry and Trade:
Tasmania: Department of State Development:
Victoria: Department of State Development:
Networks and associations
Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET)
With over 250 member organisations, ACPET is the largest body representing the private education and training sector in Australia.
Website:
Australian National Training Authority
Responsible for developing and maintaining a national system of vocational education and training in cooperation with government and industry.
Website:
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
A unified system of 12 national qualifications which links work-based and academic qualifications to form a single, comprehensive system.
Website:
Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC)
The peak organisation representing Australian universities nationally and internationally. This site has direct links to all Australian universities.
Website:
Education Network of Australia (EdNA)
An large education resource managed by the education community worldwide.
Website:
English Australia (EA)
Formerly known as the Elicos Association, English Australia is the professional association of centres teaching English language courses to overseas students in Australia.
Website:
IDP Education Australia
A major promoter of Australian education around the world.
Website:
National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR)
The national expert and coordinating body on overseas skills assessments and recognition.
Website:
Service providers
Australian Education International
The international arm of the federal Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs which is a partnership between the Australian Government and the education and training community, with a network of offices and representatives around the world, mostly in Asia. It also works in partnership with Austrade in Europe and Brazil to deliver education promotion services.
Tel: +61 2 6240 7610 (national office)
Email:
Website:
IDP Education Australia
An independent, not-for-profit export development and marketing company owned by 37 Australian universities. With national offices in Sydney and Canberra and an international network of 65 offices in 35 countries, it is involved in international student recruitment, market research, project development and international English language testing.
Tel: +61 2 6285 8222 (Canberra)
Email:
Website: