24 September 2008
THE REAL EDUCATION REVOLUTION:
AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION EXPORTS GROW TO $13.7 BILLION A YEAR
Australian International Education
Conference 7-10 October
2008
Ahead of the biggest international education
conference in the Asia-Pacific region which will be held in
Brisbane next month, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has
reported that Australia’s education exports grew by a massive 23.4%
in the past year to $13.7 billion in 2007-08.
The ABS figures, which were released this
month, confirm that education is Australia’s number one services
export, having widened the gap since it first drew ahead of tourism
six months ago.
“The continuing strong growth underlines yet
again that international education makes a major contribution to
Australia’s economic prosperity,” said conference co-host, IDP
Education chief executive Tony Pollock.
“This news is the perfect curtain raiser for
the conference, where delegates from 34 countries will gather to
hear how Australia is building one of the world’s most successful
export industries educating students from overseas.”
The Australian International Education
Conference (AIEC), now in its 22nd year, is the
industry's largest annual gathering, where experts assemble to hear
the latest findings, views and opinion.
"We are delighted with the keen response to
the conference. With over 1100 delegates expected, it will the
biggest we have held in Queensland,” Mr Pollock said.
"Twenty years ago this was a small gathering
of believers exchanging hopeful strategies on how to
internationalise education. Now it is a sophisticated, far-reaching
industry event looking at something with a big impact on
society.
"The line-up of opinion, market research
findings, presentations and workshops at the conference show what a
serious business it has become.
"It's no secret delegates from around the
world will be coming to Brisbane to find out how Australia does
it."
The most up-to-date official statistics show
that 460,000 fee-paying international students have enrolled in
courses in Australia in 2008 (up to July). This is 18.9% higher
than the previous year. Student commencements (new enrolments) grew
by 22.4% in the same period. Students are at universities,
secondary schools, English language centres and in vocational
education.
Topics during the four-day conference range
from why international students choose Australia over other
countries, to how to ensure students thrive amid cultural
differences in the classroom. There is even a briefing on education
progress in Iraq.
But, reflecting the conference theme of
“Global Citizens, Global Impact” the highest profile sessions deal
with research findings on how the industry benefits not only
international students, but also their communities and their
countries.
"In current world economic circumstances,
there is fierce interest in how high-quality services such as
education can thrive and prosper - not just as a knowledge industry
that functions as an economic powerhouse, but in how educating
people from other countries impacts Australian society," Mr Pollock
said.
Representatives of all education sectors, plus
government and non-government agencies, as well as corporates, are
among attendees and sponsors.
Delegates will hear research findings and
forecasts from over 185 speakers about the economic and social
impact of international education. Wheelchair adventurer,
neuroscientist and former international student Dr William Tan,
and Linda Mickleborough and Ali Barker of Circus Oz will give
keynote addresses as part of the motivational agenda.
"The number of speakers wishing to present at
the conference this year was the highest ever, and we have
carefully selected the best of the best," Mr Pollock said.
More than 185 speakers will present across 91
sessions. In a first for the conference, it aims to be carbon
neutral.
THE EVENT
What: 22nd Australian
International Education Conference (AIEC)
Where: Brisbane Exhibition
and Convention 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
|
- 469,692 international students have enrolled to study in
Australia during 2008 (up to July) 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 half-owned by Australian universities and
half-owned by SEEK Ltd, Australia’s leading online employment and
training company
