TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER 2008
OUR $13.7 BILLION EDUCATION EXPORTS CAN BEAT GLOBAL RECESSION –
IDP CHIEF
Australian International Education
Conference 7-10 October
2008
Australia’s third largest export industry –
$13.7 billion in international education – can survive a global
recession, said Anthony Pollock, chief executive of IDP Education,
Australia’s leading recruiter of international students.
“The evidence is clear. The last thing
overseas parents will give up, no matter how difficult things
become for them, is the education of their children,” Mr Pollock
told 1200 delegates at the welcome event of the Australian
International Education Conference in Brisbane tonight (Tuesday 7
October).
“Our analysis of performance of international
education in Australia in the past three decades shows a steady
growth line – it has survived global recessions, the Asian economic
crisis, oil and currency shocks, major international security
incidents such as 9/11, plus SARS, Avian Flu and other health
scares.
“We can afford to be confident that even
against the current turmoil, international education will go on
delivering economic and social benefits for Australia as it has
been doing since the 1950s.”
Education of foreign students began in
Australia with the Colombo Plan in 1950 and is now a full-blown
industry, positioned behind only coal and iron ore in export value.
Education is Australia’s number one knowledge export and has moved
further ahead of tourism, our other main services export.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported
that education exports grew by a massive 23.4% in the past year to
$13.7 billion for 2007-08.
“Last year’s strong growth underlines yet
again that international education makes a major contribution to
Australia’s economic prosperity,” Mr Pollock told delegates. “We
believe that will continue to be the case.”
The AIEC conference is the largest of its type
in the Asia-Pacific region.
More than 185 speakers will present at 91
sessions at the conference, starting with major research findings
at 10.30am Wednesday.
THE EVENT
What:
22nd Australian International Education Conference
(AIEC)
Where:
Brisbane
Convention and Exhibition Centre
When: 7-10 October 2008
Theme:
Global
Citizens, Global Impact
Web:
http://www.aiec.idp.com/
INTERVIEWS AND MEDIA
BRIEFINGS
Tim Dodd 0407 440 160 / +61 407 440 160 or
tim.dodd@idp.com
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN
AUSTRALIA
- Education is Australia’s top services export and third largest
export overall after coal and iron ore.
- Education moved ahead of tourism in export value for the first
time in the 2007 calendar year.
Export revenue from education and
tourism
Yr to Jun 07 Yr to Dec 07 Yr to
Jun 08
Education $11.1
billion $12.2
billion $13.7 billion
Tourism
$11.5 billion $11.8
billion $12.0 billion
Source: International Trade in Goods and
Services 5368.0,
Australian Bureau of Statistics
|
- 474,389 international students have enrolled to study in
Australia during 2008 (up to August) according to the Federal
Government agency, Australian Education International
ABOUT IDP EDUCATION PTY
LTD
- IDP Education jointly hosts the Australian
International Education Conference in conjunction with the
International Education Association of Australia
- IDP Education is the largest placement service for
international students enrolling in Australian educational
institutions with over 75 student offices in 29 countries
- IDP Education jointly owns the world’s leading English language
proficiency test, IELTS, with the British Council and Cambridge
University
- IDP Education is jointly owned by Australian universities and
SEEK Ltd, Australia’s leading online employment and training
company.
