Kyoto education officials seal new deal with Queensland

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the signing of a Statement of Intent in Kyoto to encourage education exchanges between Queensland and Kyoto Prefecture.

The Premier witnessed the signing by Kyoto Prefecture Board of Education officials during her trade mission to Japan.

“This is the first of three agreements we plan to finalise with Japanese officials during the trip,” the Premier said.

“We also have Memorandums of Understanding to finalise with the Hiroshima Prefecture Board of Education and the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.

“These agreements foster long term, mutually beneficial collaborations between Queensland educators and their Japanese counterparts to provide students with life-changing experiences.”

The signing of the Kyoto Statement of Intent is a precursor to a ten day study tour to Kyoto and Hiroshima by Queensland students in December, which focusses on the study of STEM subjects and the Japanese language.

“Eleven high-performing Year 10 students selected from geographically diverse parts of Queensland will be hosted by the Nanyo High School in Kyoto during their study tour,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The students, who will also be hosted by Hiroshima, will be accompanied by two teacher chaperones.

“These students have the opportunity to learn design, technology and robotics and undertake industry visits thanks to financial support from the Department of Education and Training,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Queensland has long-term plans to encourage students to participate in subjects that focus on science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as languages.

“These plans are detailed in ‘Schools of the future’ and ‘Global schools through languages’, which were developed under the Advancing Education action plan to ensure Queensland students are ready for the future.”

Around 90,000 Queensland students study Japanese, making it the most popular language taught in Queensland schools.

Queensland is also increasingly popular with Japanese students, as their government works to double the number of its citizens studying abroad by 2020, the year of the Tokyo Olympics.

"With Japan as our second largest trading partner, these relations are vital-these students studying today could be the future leaders of tomorrow.

“That is why my Government is committing $25.3 million over the next five years to deliver a whole-of-government strategy to ensure the number of international students choosingQueensland continues to rise,” the Premier said.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier's office) 0417 263 791