Since 1969, IDP Education has played a major role in international education and development. We were set up in the time of the Colombo Plan, when development aid was the dominant driver of international education, and we became a leader in delivering education assistance to the Asian region.

In the mid-1980’s IDP began recruiting international students for Australian education institutions. Since that time we have become the world’s largest international student placement provider and assisted more than 300,000 students to achieve their goal of an international education.

Two decades ago IDP commenced another significant venture, becoming part of the partnership that established IELTS (International English Language Testing System), today the world’s most widely used English language proficiency test.  

In order to place students into the best possible courses and institutions to suit their career goals and lifestyle choices, in 2009 we included quality education institutions in the USA and Canada in our portfolio. In 2011 we also starting recruiting for select universities in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

It’s been an exciting journey – and one that continues

IDP HISTORY MILESTONES

1969

• IDP established as Australian Asian Universities’ Cooperation Scheme (AAUCS) to deliver development assistance to universities in South-East Asia.

1981

• AAUCS changes its name to the International Development Program (IDP) of Australian Universities and Colleges.
  
• IDP office opens in Jakarta, Indonesia.

1985

• Australian Government announces policy on export of education services and full fees for international students.

1986

• IDP builds new business providing counselling to prospective students planning to study in Australia.
• IDP establishes office in Manila, Philippines.

1987

• IDP established in Singapore.
  
• IDP organises first annual workshop Overseas Students: New approaches and practices with 95 delegates. This has grown into the annual Australian International Education Conference, the largest of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, attracting more than 1,300 Australian and international delegates.

1988

• IDP established in Thailand.

1989

• Launch of IELTS (International English Language Testing System) by IDP, British Council and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

1990

• IDP established in Malaysia and Taiwan.

1992

• IDP sets up Australian College of English (ACE) in Cambodia.

1993

• IDP established in China.

1994

• Company changes name to IDP Education Australia Ltd.

1995

• IDP established in India and Vietnam.
• IDP Onshore Student Services opens its doors in Sydney.

1996

• IDP Education Australia Ltd becomes a company wholly owned by Australian universities.

1997

• IDP established in Mauritius.

2002

• IDP Sydney presence expands to Thomas Street, Sydney.

2003

• IELTS Australia breaks through the 100,000 mark in tests conducted for the calendar year.

2004

• IELTS Australia wins 2004 Australia Education Export Award.

2006

• SEEK Ltd acquires 50% shareholding in IDP; the remaining 50% continues to be held by Australian university shareholders.
• IDP Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth open their doors for business.
• First CamTESOL conference on the teaching of English, organised by IDP Cambodia, held in Phnom Penh.

2008

• IELTS Australia remaining 46% share bought by IDP Education, making IELTS Australia a wholly owned subsidiary of IDP Education.

2009

• IDP established in North America and begins student placement in North American universities.
• IDP moves to a regional structure with six regions: North America, Middle East, South Asia, North Asia, Australia and Europe and South-East Asia.
• IELTS Australia breaks through the 500,000 mark in tests conducted for the calendar year.
• IDP establishes student service office in Adelaide, Australia.

2010

• Satellite student services opened in Sydney.
• New IDP office opened in Shenzen, China.
• Three new offices opened in India: Coimbatore, West Delhi and Kolkata.
• New IDP offices open in Middle East: Libya, Egypt.
• IDP Education establishes office in Cardiff, United Kingdom, in preparation for launch of recruitment to UK in 2011.

2011

• IDP begins recruitment for Canadian and New Zealand universities
• New IDP office opened in Istanbul,Turkey
• New IDP office opened in Jordan

2012

• IDP establishes a student service office in Cairo, Egypt
• IDP establishes a student service office in Azerbaijan