Discussion paper: international education

Australia's international education sector plays a critical role in connecting Australia with the rest of the world as well as contributing to Australia's national economy. In the past twenty years Australia has educated approximately 3 million international students. Prior to the [Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)] pandemic in 2019, international education brought in $40.3 billion and supported 250,000 jobs in Australia. In 2020, Australia was the third most popular study destination for international students, after the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). International...  [+] Show more

Australia's international education sector plays a critical role in connecting Australia with the rest of the world as well as contributing to Australia's national economy. In the past twenty years Australia has educated approximately 3 million international students. Prior to the [Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)] pandemic in 2019, international education brought in $40.3 billion and supported 250,000 jobs in Australia. In 2020, Australia was the third most popular study destination for international students, after the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). International students are integral to higher education's contribution to Australian society, bringing significant economic, cultural and community benefits. Australia attracts students from over 190 countries, and this collective diversity and knowledge feeds into our education institutions, workplaces, and communities.

Australia has been regarded as a global leader in international education, however the landscape is changing through emerging geostrategic complexities, increasing competition from traditional and new markets and the rise of digital delivery. In addition, Australia has one of the strongest legislative frameworks in the world to protect the rights of student visa holders studying in Australia. Australia will need to utilise international education outcomes to respond to Australia's national skills shortages now and into the future. Australia's international education sector will need to recalibrate to keep pace with digital innovations as online and transnational markets grow. The Australian Government will need to consider how best to strengthen resilience to future market shocks, to foreign interference and research security risks to strengthen the international education sectors ability to contribute to building Australia's future workforce.

This discussion paper explores the following themes: (1) Online education, offshore (transnational) and hybrid education futures; (2) International student experience; (3) Quality and regulation including education agents; (4) Skills and graduate pathways; (5) Marketing; (6) Regional experiences for international students; and (7) Soft power. Each theme has a series of questions for consideration.

Edited excerpts from publication.